Border officials grapple with outbound smuggling

( NewsNation ) — While some Americans’ border concerns revolve around drugs and human smuggling in the United States, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is also working to stop what’s leaving the country .

It’s all part of a criminal transaction arming and lining the pockets of some of the Mexican cartels.

To truly disrupt cartel operations, CBP seems to be strengthening its efforts to stop the southbound flow of guns, ammo, and money by tightening outbound inspections.

CBP officers working at the El Paso port of entry seized 92,900 rounds of large-caliber ammunition at the end of last month. The ammunition was on a commercial tour bus leaving the U.S. and entering Mexico at the Bridge of the Americas port of entry. The agency reported the seizure yielded nearly triple the amount of ammo that CBP officers performing outbound enforcement inspections at the El Paso field office recovered over the past three fiscal years combined.

As part of Operation Apollo X, CBP officers in El Paso apprehended 26 fugitives and seized firearms, ammunition, counterfeit goods, and more than $90,000 in undeclared cash. The operation also led to the largest drug bust during this period on August 19 at the Ysleta port of entry, where officers confiscated 150 pounds of methamphetamine.

Law enforcement officers at the border say when they discover guns or money going south, it means a cartel transaction was successful.

It’s all hands on deck at the Del Rio port of entry, where CBP, border patrol and other federal and local agencies are working outbound operations.

Recent Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) data suggests that over 200,000 firearms discovered in South America between 2016 and 2022 were traced back to all 50 states .

Leading the pack was Texas, with around 22,500 firearms, followed by Arizona with 9,500 and California with 7,800.

Meanwhile, in Tucson, Arizona, Border Patrol agents recently seized a rifle and a large amount of ammunition. The sector chief said the seizure prevented the contraband from being smuggled to cartels in Mexico.

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