16,000 rounds of ammunition bound for Mexico seized at Hidalgo bridge

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 16,000 rounds of ammunition headed to Mexico on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge. (Courtesy photo)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge stopped thousands of rounds of ammunition from going into Mexico on Tuesday, an agency news release said.

CBP officers inspected a white Chevrolet pickup truck traveling into Mexico and, according to the CBP release, found 3,000 rounds of .38 caliber pistol ammunition and 13,000 rounds of 7.62X39 rifle ammunition hidden in the vehicle.

In all, CBP officers seized 16,000 rounds during the single inspection.

“Our CBP officers prevented this ammunition from landing in the streets of Mexico, helping to save countless lives all thanks to their diligent inspection work,” Port Director Carlos Rodriguez said in the release. “The undeclared exportation of weapons and ammunition into Mexico is illegal.”

CBP seized the ammunition and the vehicle, and the case remains under investigation by special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations.

It’s unclear what happened to the driver of the vehicle.