by Matthew Holloway | May 6, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Tucson Border Patrol Specialty Units and Homeland Security Investigations agents have arrested an illegal immigrant wanted by the Mexican government for smuggling weapons across the border.
“Gun runner runs out of luck. The arm of the law caught up to a Mexican arms smuggler when Tucson Border Patrol Specialty Units from Casa Grande teamed up with Homeland Security Investigations to arrest a man wanted by the Government of Mexico,” said Chief Patrol Agent (CPA) of the Tucson Sector Sean McGoffin on X.
The Chief Patrol Agent added that the man arrested was living in Phoenix illegally and was handed over to Mexican ‘Federales’ or La Agencia de Investigación Criminal who were shown in a posted image in uniform with their backs turned and faces obscured along with HSI Agents and the suspect. McGoffin added, “Now he will face the music in Mexico, as he was promptly removed from the U.S. into the custody of Mexican Officials.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) hosted a press conference Friday morning with law enforcement partners in Tucson highlighting DHS and interagency efforts to interdict firearms being smuggled into Mexico.
CBP’s Director of Field Operations for Tucson Guadalupe Ramirez, who led the presser, told reporters that the Department of Homeland Security alongside local and federal partners have in recent days successfully “stopped child abduction, interdicted criminals fleeing prosecution, interdicted illegal contraband such as controlled substances, precursors, arms, and recovered myriad of other violations involving currency and stolen vehicles.”
He added, “Our successful interdiction and seizures play a critical role in protecting America’s borders, the national security by preventing illegal weapons, reaching dangerous criminal networks in Mexico. CBP has the authority for departure control of any person, baggage vehicle or material departing the United States and all are subject to inspection and search by CBP officers to ensure compliance with applicable outbound laws.”
Ramirez concluded, “Together with our partners, we’ll continue to target and examine high risk outbound conveyance destined to Mexico, we’ll increase outbound interdiction focused on weapons and currency trafficking of weapons and ammunition intended for terrorism. It is not just a border violation, it is a direct act of supporting terrorism that threatens national security and international security. Engaging in weapons trafficking, particularly to support designated foreign terrorist organizations comes with severe legal consequences including terrorism related charges and long sentences and financial penalties.”
Brendan Iber, Special Agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) noted during the conference that the ATF has “determined that cartels prefer large caliber and or belt-fed rifles such as the Ohio Ordinance M2 50 caliber rifle, the Ohio Ordinance M240 7.62 millimeter, the FN M249 5.56 millimeter, and the Barrett M82 50 caliber Semi-Automatic rifle.”
He continued, “These cartels and terrorist organizations are often responsible for the most heinous violent crimes affecting the communities and neighborhoods of the United States. Under President Trump and Attorney General Bondi’s leadership, and since January 20th of this year, ATF has prevented nearly 9,700 firearms from falling into the hands of dangerous criminals or terrorists.” Iber added, “Since the announcement from Attorney General Bondi earlier in the week of the 9,700 firearms, I will tell you here in Arizona alone, that number is now up to 11,000.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Jan 24, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
On Monday, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) announced that detectives from its Anti-Smuggling Unit recently intercepted a vehicle on Interstate 10 driven by two illegal immigrants carrying 20,000 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition. During the January 17th traffic stop, a second vehicle, traveling with the first, was apprehended by the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office in Benson, AZ, carrying 10,000 rounds of .50 BMG ammunition.
According to the PCSO press release, the investigation has been handed off to federal agents with the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF.)
Sheriff Ross Teeple, who began his term on Jan. 1st, said in a statement, “The violence of the cartels in Mexico has held that country hostage. This traffic stop highlights the exceptional work of our Anti-Smuggling Unit detectives as they continually work against these criminal organizations. It also highlights our great working relationships with our federal and local partners in a united front against these criminals.”
The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) revealed in a lengthier statement that the seizure involved the Cochise County Counter Narcotics and Trafficking Alliance (CNTA), HSI, and ATF. Officials reportedly contacted the occupants of the vehicles who were identified by the department as “an asylum seeker out of Cuba,” “a U.S. citizen out of Texas,” and “two asylum seekers.” CCSO did not specify what country the second pair were from.
Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels told Fox10, “These people were arrested. It took a lot of work.”
Federal law prohibits the purchase, possession, or transport of ammunition by an illegal immigrant or alien who has not yet been admitted legally to the United States under The Gun Control Act (GCA), or 18 U.S.C. § 922(g),
“It shall be unlawful for any person— who, being an alien—(A)is illegally or unlawfully in the United States; or (B)except as provided in subsection (y)(2), has been admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa (as that term is defined in section 101(a)(26) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(26))); to ship or transport in interstate or foreign commerce, or possess in or affecting commerce, any firearm or ammunition; or to receive any firearm or ammunition which has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.”
Bernard Zapor, a retired ATF Special Agent In Charge and faculty member at Arizona State University, told Fox10, “One thing for sure is that U.S. ammunition is a massively sought commodity in Mexico. It is priceless.”
He added that the seizures held the hallmarks of cartel involvement saying , “There’s a couple of things that are very interesting about this: the way that it was being transported, it wasn’t concealed from the photographs of the arrests. It was very blatantly just stored in an SUV, which indicates to me that they probably had the crossing into Mexico completely arranged.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Michael Infanzon | May 3, 2023 | Opinion
By Michael Infanzon |
Recently, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the use of stabilizing braces on firearms, with some people suggesting that these braces make guns deadlier and easier to use in violent attacks. This belief has been perpetuated by some anti-Second Amendment politicians and advocacy groups, including Giffords Law Center, which claims that shooters have used stabilizing braces to “skirt the National Firearms Act and commit horrific tragedies.” But this claim is both misleading and inaccurate.
First, let’s discuss what stabilizing braces actually are. These accessories can be attached to certain firearms, such as pistols, to provide additional support and stability when shooting. They were originally designed to help people with disabilities or injuries to safely and effectively use firearms. But they have since become popular among gun enthusiasts and sport shooters as well.
Giffords and others claim that stabilizing braces are somehow responsible for enabling shooters to commit violent acts. But there is no evidence to support this claim. In fact, the vast majority of shootings in the United States are committed with illegally obtained firearms, rather than legally purchased guns that have been modified with accessories like stabilizing braces.
Furthermore, the idea that stabilizing braces allow shooters to “skirt” the National Firearms Act (NFA) is also misleading. The NFA regulates certain types of firearms, such as machine guns and short-barreled rifles, and requires owners to register these weapons with the federal government and pay a tax. However, the use of stabilizing braces on pistols is not a violation of the NFA and does not allow individuals to avoid the registration and tax requirements.
In fact, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has issued guidance on the use of stabilizing braces, stating that “the use of a handgun stabilizing brace… does not change the classification of the firearm or impose any additional registration, licensing, or other requirements on the firearm or its owner.” The ATF has also made it clear that it will take action against individuals who use stabilizing braces to create a firearm that meets the definition of a short-barreled rifle, which is regulated under the NFA.
The claim made by Giffords and others that stabilizing braces make firearms deadlier and enable shooters to “skirt” the National Firearms Act is simply not true. There is no evidence to support this claim, and the ATF has made it clear that the use of stabilizing braces on pistols does not violate any federal laws or regulations. It’s important to separate fact from fiction when discussing issues related to firearms and public safety, and to base policy decisions on sound evidence and analysis.
That’s why the Arizona Citizens Defense League and the Arizona Firearms Industry Trade Association will continue to stand up for Arizona citizens and the firearm industry against unconstitutional laws and these types of lies.
Michael Infanzon is the Managing Partner for EPIC Policy Group and lobbies on behalf of groups like the Arizona Citizens Defense League and the Arizona Firearms Industry Trade Association.
