EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – A federal grand jury has charged two men who allegedly tried to smuggle five high-caliber snipper rifles to Mexico last month, and prosecutors are seeking the forfeiture of the firearms, five .50-caliber Barrett long guns and four magazines for .50-caliber bullets.
Wednesday’s charges of unlawful smuggling of goods from the United States stem from the March 12 arrest of Oscar Sanchez Gonzalez and Arturo Martinez Aguilar as they allegedly attempted to drive to Mexico over the Calexico West port of entry.
Weapons, ammo stopped from heading into Mexico
A U.S. Border Patrol Intelligence unit was conducting surveillance at a Calexico, California, residence where illegal activity was suspected when a Volkswagen Jetta arrived and parked next to a Chevrolet SUV. The two vehicles drove away from the house in tandem and parked near the corner of Kloke Road and Cole Boulevard, court documents show.
Border Patrol agents allegedly observed Sanchez, the driver of the Jetta, step out and meet with the driver of the SUV. Agents say they saw the man “transfer multiple bulky items” from the SUV to the trunk of the Jetta. Both vehicles then drove off in different directions.
Teen seen shoving guns through border wall into Mexico
Agents followed the Jetta and witnessed it travel to the southbound lanes of the port of entry towards Mexicali, Mexico. The agents called on U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to stop the vehicle before it could cross the border…