CBP officers seized over 400 firearms and nearly 52,000 rounds of ammunition at the Port of Houston/Galveston over two years.
GALVESTON, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of Houston/Galveston have intercepted a massive cache of weapons and ammunition over the past two years, officials said.
More than 400 firearms, nearly 1,000 gun magazines and parts, and close to 52,000 rounds of ammunition were seized from shipping containers headed south, often hidden among everyday items like used household goods.
Many of the shipments were bound for Honduras, a country already grappling with political instability and high levels of violence. CBP officials said the seizures are part of a larger effort to disrupt transnational criminal networks attempting to smuggle dangerous weapons out of the United States.
“CBP’s core function is to keep America safe by ensuring that weapons and terrorists do not enter the United States,” said Thomas Mahn, CBP area port director for Houston/Galveston. “We remain vigilant in our mission to prevent the illegal import or export of firearms and other contraband that can fuel violence and instability abroad.”
Officials said recent busts highlight just how varied the smuggled weaponry can be. In one case, officers found two pistols, two scopes, five magazines, a red dot sight, and 117 rounds of ammunition inside a shipment headed for Honduras. In another, they discovered two rifles, two magazines, and 769 rounds of ammunition hidden in similar cargo.
The agency said the seizures underscore its ongoing work to prevent weapons from reaching high-risk regions where they could escalate violence or bolster organized crime.
CBP continues to partner with international agencies and law enforcement to share intelligence, identify patterns, and stop weapons trafficking before it crosses the border.