U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) discovered a handgun and nearly 1,500 rounds of ammunition on October 4 at the Port of Wilmington.
CBP officers used a mobile x-ray to scan 200 cardboard boxes in a shipping container destined to Honduras, and detected anomalies inside two boxes. Further inspection discovered a disassembled Taurus 9mm handgun wrapped separately in aluminum foil, and 1,498 rounds of 9mm and .22 caliber ammunition wrapped in aluminum foil inside Irish Spring soap boxes and other small containers.
It is illegal to export firearms, weapons parts and ammunition without a federal license and permit from the U.S. Department of Commerce or the U.S. Department of State. CBP officers seized the weapon, magazine and ammo.
An investigation continues.
The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay assisted in this outbound inspection and interception.
“This outbound seizure of a firearm, firearm parts and ammunition is an excellent example of how Customs and Border Protection officers leverage cutting edge technology to enforce our nation’s laws and to intercept illicit firearms,” said Casey Durst, Director of Field Operations for CBP’s Baltimore Field Office. “Ultimately, we do not want illegally exported weapons ending up in the hands of criminals or criminal organizations, here or abroad.”
