DOUGLAS, ARIZ.—Thousands of rounds of ammunition headed for Mexico were seized yesterday by Customs and Border Protection officers assigned to the Port of Douglas in Arizona.
CBP officers conducting routine outbound inspections, along with Douglas Border Patrol agents and Douglas Police, referred Louis Armando Collins-Avila, 41, of Avondale, Ariz., for an additional inspection of his Chevrolet SUV. During the inspection, officials located 3,000 rounds of ammunition often used in assault weapons; 2,000 rounds of 9 mm ammo; and 1,000 rounds of .38-caliber ammunition.
The vehicle and ammunition were processed for seizure. Collins was arrested and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.
Individuals arrested may be charged by complaint, the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity, which raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless and until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Office of Field Operations is the primary organization within Customs and Border Protection tasked with an anti-terrorism mission at our nation's ports. CBP officers screen all people, vehicles and goods entering the United States while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. Their mission also includes carrying out border-related duties, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.