United States officials say large amounts of weapons and ammunition were seized at two Texas border checkpoints in recent months, and a father and son have pleaded guilty to attempted arms smuggling in one of the cases. “Every weapon and round of ammunition seized represents a potential threat neutralized,” Del Rio, Texas, Port Director Liliana Flores said.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the Del Rio Port of Entry said they seized three weapons, nine magazines and 1,389 rounds of ammunition in a vehicle headed south at the Del Rio International Bridge into Ciudad Acuña, Mexico, on December 21, 2025. The weapons and ammo were found in a 2016 Chevrolet passenger van that was pulling a utility trailer, a CBP news release said.
The weapons and ammunition were found hidden inside the vehicle after the vehicle and utility trailer were chosen for a nonintrusive inspection scan and canine examination.
Homeland Security Investigations special agents initiated a criminal investigation. “As this seizure illustrates, we will continue to leverage every resource to deter and disrupt illegal activities that threaten public safety,” Flores said in the CBP release.
In another incident, a father and son living in Alabama pleaded guilty in December to attempted trafficking of more than 500 weapons and a cache of ammunition. Emilio Ramirez Cortes, a Mexican citizen who legally resides in Albertville, Alabama, and his son, Edgar Emilio Ramirez Diaz, also of Albertville, admitted smuggling goods from the United States into Mexico and trafficking firearms, U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei announced.
On October 23, two vehicles, which appeared to be driving together, approached the Juarez-Lincoln Port of Entry in Laredo, Texas. Ramirez Diaz drove a Chevrolet Tahoe, while his father followed in a Chevrolet Silverado. Both vehicles were towing enclosed utility trailers. Fox News reported that an inspection was ordered when agents noticed irregularities in the trailer walls.
At the initial inspection, Ramirez Diaz said he was traveling with his father, and both men claimed they were not hauling any firearms, weapon parts, ammunition or currency over $10,000. After a positive canine alert, law enforcement conducted a more intensive search and found false walls in both trailers. Inside, they found 534 firearms, 31,482 rounds of ammunition, 525 magazines, 40 scopes, four lasers, 10 rifle slings and other related items.
As part of their plea agreements, the men admitted they were smuggling the weapons and accessories. They also acknowledged they had done so on multiple occasions.
The men face up to 15 years for trafficking firearms and another 10 years for smuggling goods from the United States. They also could be fined up to $250,000 apiece.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña will impose sentencing later. The men will remain in custody until then.