Laredo, Texas – A brazen attempt to smuggle nearly 5,000 rounds of ammunition into Mexico has landed a 20-year-old Mexican national in federal prison for 63 months, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Charbel Garza Macias, a member of the notorious Cartel Del Noreste (CDN), was caught red-handed by authorities on July 16, 2024, while attempting to transport the illicit cargo from Laredo to Mexico.
According to court documents, Macias had made several bulk purchases of ammunition in Laredo with the intention of transporting them to Mexico for profit. On the day of his arrest, authorities observed a vehicle previously suspected of transporting large amounts of high-caliber ammunition, and Macias was driving with the ammunition loaded into the trunk.
During a traffic stop, a search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of approximately 4,800 rounds of .223/5.56 caliber ammunition. Macias admitted to authorities that he was hired to purchase approximately 20,000 rounds of ammunition to be smuggled into Mexico for the CDN operating in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico.
Macias did not have a license to export ammunition or firearms and knew it was illegal to smuggle ammunition into Mexico. U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo handed down the 63-month prison sentence, noting that Macias was providing tools of war to a brutal criminal organization.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative to combat the influx of illegal immigration, eliminate cartels, and protect communities from violent crime. ICE-HSI conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan L. Oliver prosecuted the case.
Defendant: Charbel Garza Macias, 20-year-old Mexican national
Criminal Charges: Illegally possessing ammunition
City and State: Laredo, Texas
Exact Date: July 16, 2024 (arrest date)
Sentence or Outcome: 63 months in federal prison
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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