A man who attempted to smuggle into Mexico more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition and firearm barrels was handed a 28-month prison sentence Thursday, court records show.
U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez sentenced Eliots Christopher Carcoba-Alvara to the more than two-year prison sentence in connection with his attempt last October to take into Mexico several thousand rounds of ammunition, eight rifle and pistol magazines, two pistol barrels and a rifle barrel, the criminal complaint against Carcoba-Alvara stated.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials stopped Carcoba-Alvara driving a pickup truck at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge as he attempted to cross into Mexico.
During inspection of Carcoba-Alvara’s truck, CBP officers discovered multiple packages in the passenger compartment of the pickup truck.
Inside the packages, CBP officers discovered 1,000 rounds of Fiocchi .38 super ammunition, 500 rounds of Fiocchi .44 special ammunition, and roughly 1,800 rounds of other ammo in assorted calibers in addition to the aforementioned magazines and barrels, the court record shows.
During an interview with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations agents, Carcoba-Alvara admitted to attempting to smuggle the aforementioned items into Mexico, despite not having a license to do so legally.
Weapons and ammunition, like the ones involved in this case, purchased legally and illegally in the U.S., are often smuggled into Mexico and end up in the hands of criminals, exacerbating the violence perpetrated by drug cartel organizations as a result of the drug trade.
Carcoba-Alvara, who does not legal status to remain in the country, will likely be deported upon completion of his prison term.
———
© 2019 The Monitor (McAllen, Texas)
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
