Posted on 11/25/2006 7:13:42 PM PST by NapkinUser
An off-duty U.S. Border Patrol agent was jailed for more than a day after Mexican border officials found 650 rounds of ammunition in his car, authorities said Saturday.
The unidentified agent was arrested Thursday as he entered Mexico at the San Luis Port of Entry in southwest Arizona, and was released late Friday and returned to the United States, Mexican and U.S. authorities said.
Mexican Customs inspectors found a bag containing 650 rounds of .40- caliber ammunition in the agent's 2006 Nissan Altima, Mexican authorities said. Possessing firearms or ammunition in Mexico is illegal and large warning signs are posted at border crossings.
Lloyd Easterling, a Border Patrol spokesman, said the agent was assigned to the agency's Yuma sector, but declined to release his name. He said officials worked with Mexican authorities to secure his release.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Seems like we read a similar story a year or so back.
hmmmmmmmmmm.........
The last paragraph of the story:
"A similar incident happened in April 2005, when Mexican officials detained two Border Patrol agents at the Mexicali Port of Entry after inspectors found boxes contained more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition."
Good grief ammunition is illegal in Mexico?
No wonder their murderers are leaving in droves
cant even find work!
Hence the complete absence of gun crime south of the border.
I'm surprised he was released.
50 rounds or 100 rounds might have brought a sizable amount of time in a Mexican prison. 650 rounds should raise eyebrows and removal from service. The Border patrol is well aware of Mexican laws regarding weapons and ammunition. Unless of course he was working for a drug kingpin in the area and thought he was above the law which would more conveniently explain the exposure.
650 Rounds is not a whole helluva lot of ammunition , but what was he doing crossing the border with it? He has to know better. Be interesting to know if this agent is Hispanic.
Maybe not in combat, but for pistol ammo, its a couple of hundred dollars worth and BP agents are generally considerably more conscientious of its presence.
"650 Rounds is not a whole helluva lot of ammunition , but what was he doing crossing the border with it?"
I'm betting it was planted.
Must be the reason the gun gangs are better armed than the Islamists. Maybe the heavy weaponry they sport is classified as something other than guns, kind of like the Japanese move when SUV's snd the like became something other than cars.
My first thoughts too.
Wonder what the rest of this story is about?
I am betting he was going to sell it down there...
Too bad they didn't do the same for Tommy Bean, who was caught with less than half as many rounds, left in his vehicle after a gun show north of the border. He's now a convicted felon, even though his "crime" is protected by the Constitution of the United States, and his conviction was in Mexico. As such he can not even own firearms, let alone deal in them.
The President could have simply pardoned him, and restored his full rights, along with his livelihood. But he didn't.
Actually, it's not, unless it's military caliber. The story says it was .40, which would make it the ammunition for his duty pistol, most likely anyway. AFAIK, that's not considered a military caliber in Mexico. 9mm and .45 ACP are however.
The son of a coworker of my wife was accidentally shot while spending a year in Mexico as an exchange student. The Colt belonged to a civil engineer, who kept it for self protection when working in the region along the southern border. Magically, and with much expenditure of cash one suspects, a "permit" for the weapon was found. But the kid is still dead. I went to the memorial service.
Only without a permit, or if the weapons use military caliber ammunition, such as 9mm or .45 ACP.
But, of course, the fact that Mexcian authorities are too scared to go after the drug cartels in Northern Mexico with paramilitary operations (including guns and ammunition) means nothing here.
LOL, I'm generally more concerned with 40mm rounds, 105mm, 250lb slicks than .40cal. I am also cognizant that most law enforcement officers find a good shotgun or rifle to justify lugging around extra ammo than a whole slew of pistol rounds.
FWIW, a particularly good day at the range is frequently more fruitfully applied using a .22cal long pistol for target practice and maybe a couple of clips per each other weapon employed. If you are unable to develop your shooting skills without using lots of high cost ammo, more power to you. Many a distinguished shooter only practice with .22 until a day or so before the match, and even then frequently use far less than 650 rounds. I can understand having maybe a smattering of loose rounds of several different calibres in his truck or maybe a couple of boxes, but with half a crate he could have famfired a SWAT team. If he's that loose going across the border, just imagine what he nonchalantly might keep in the truck when he runs down to the store to pick up a loaf of bread.
BTW, Mexican federales aren't known for their carefree acceptance of weapons or ammo in vehicles crossing the border. They also have a reputation of being a bit hot and cold with Border Patrol agents. There are many a horror story of thoughtless dayvisa gingos ending up in a federal prison south of the border for similar lapses in memory with far less ammo in their possession.
To repeat my meaning, I am surprised he was released. Between the amount of ammo involved, and his simply explained release, there might be more to the story than it appears.
On the other hand, maybe its good he got stopped. If a guy has to famfire with 650 rounds, I don't think I'd want him defending my flank and he's probably limited to the roadways anyways.
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