Two Mexican nationals were arrested in Colorado last month after authorities found them transporting 180,000 rounds of ammunition during a traffic stop, federal officials have announced.
Caesar Ramon Martinez Solis, 41, and Humberto Ivan Amador Gavira, 24, were pulled over on March 26th in Cañon City, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Colorado.
Detectives from Fremont County stopped their white Chevrolet van after it failed to dim its headlights, didn’t signal a turn, and had a broken license plate light, according to an arrest affidavit.
Inside the van, authorities found around 150 boxes of .308 ammunition and 30 boxes of 7.62 ammunition, with each box labeled as holding 1,000 rounds.
Martinez Solis waived his right to an attorney and spoke with Homeland Security agents.
He explained that he and Amador Gavira, whom he identified as his brother-in-law, had traveled from Mexico to Denver the day before to look at a vehicle.
They then drove to Salt Lake City, where they stopped at a gun shop, and Amador Gavira bought the ammunition, according to the affidavit.
“[Martinez Solis] further explained that he did not know the intent with the ammunition but that he believed it was destined for Pueblo,” the affidavit stated.
He added that the exact location was saved on Amador Gavira’s phone. Authorities have not publicly disclosed the destination.
Both men have been charged with unlawful possession of ammunition by an alien admitted under a nonimmigrant visa.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
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