[South Texas:]Agents Find Cache of Weapons Near Rio Grande

KRGV ^ | 3/17/2011

[SwinneySwitch]

FRONTON ─ U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Rio Grande City Station seized a cache of weapons, ammunition and grenades near the Rio Grande on Wednesday.

The weapons were confiscated when agents working in the area saw a pickup stop near the river and then drive away after a short amount of time. The agents walked over to the location and found footprints leading into the brush. As they followed the trail, they found a large duffle bag hidden within the brush.

Inside the bag, agents found eight AK-47 assault rifles, two AR-15 assault rifles, two grenades, nearly 350 rounds of ammunition of varying calibers, several 30-round magazines and a 40 mm grenade launcher.

The McAllen Police Department’s Bomb Squad was called in and detonated the two grenades. The weapons and ammunition were turned over to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for further investigation.

“The seizure of these weapons near the river indicates that weapons smugglers are having a hard time getting their contraband into Mexico via the normal points of entry,” Chief Patrol Agent Rosendo Hinojosa said. “Therefore, they are taking more desperate measures and trying to get them across the river through various other methods.”

To report suspicious activity, call the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector’s toll-free telephone number at 800-863-9382.

[riverrunner]

You mean the ATF Just didn’t walk them over this time.

[SandRat]

Border Ping

[Vendome]

I think I lost something like those a while back. /s

Where do I claim them? /s

[forgotten man]

Where are the grenades and grenade launchers sold?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Operation Gunwalker in action.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

“The weapons and ammunition were turned over to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives”?

Yeah sure, it’s the fastest way to get them to Mexico!

[MasterGunner01]

The Border Patrol turner the weapons and ammo in the cache to the ATF? WTH is going on here? ATF is directly responsible for the death of BP Agent Brian Terry on 14 December 2010. Didn’t USBP get the memo?

[drypowder]

The weapons and ammunition were turned over to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for further investigation

These border agents just don't get it, now the BATFE has to take all those weapons back out there.

[Gilbo_3]

The weapons and ammunition were turned over to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for another attempt to pump up the numbers of southbound 'assault rifles' and wally-world grenade launchers...

[Tainan]

Looks like the fixins for a wild week-end in Juarez!

[SIDENET]

Wouldn’t surprise me if they were still doing it.

[UCFRoadWarrior]

Probably left there by the Mexican Drug Cartels friends....the US Chamber of Commerce.

[TXnMA]

Should have had a Predator tracking that pickup — ready to put a Hellfire into it as soon as the weapons were found.

[TXnMA]

Ooops -- better re-think that!

Might've taken out some BATFE[ces] agents...