U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers conducting outbound operations at the Hidalgo Port of Entry discovered and seized one rifle, two handguns, three magazines and 586 rounds of .50-caliber ammunition after an officer spotted something suspicious, according to an official CBP Office of Field Operations social media post.

The information, shared by the CBP Office of Field Operations and by Executive Assistant Commissioner Diane J. Sabatino, highlighted the seizure under the caption “STOPPED AT THE PORT” and noted that the traveler had claimed to have “nothing to declare.”

“Nothing to declare? That’s a bold statement,” the post stated. “During outbound operations, a CBP officer spotted something suspicious, leading to the discovery of 1 rifle, 2 handguns, 3 magazines, and 586 rounds of .50-caliber ammunition. That’s a whole lot of firepower for someone with nothing to declare.”

Outbound inspections at ports of entry such as Hidalgo are conducted to intercept weapons, ammunition and other items being moved southbound toward Mexico. The Hidalgo Port of Entry, which includes crossings serving the Rio Grande Valley and the Reynosa area, has recorded multiple weapons and ammunition seizures in recent years during similar operations.

.50-caliber ammunition is a high-powered round typically associated with anti-materiel rifles and has been a recurring focus of CBP outbound enforcement efforts aimed at preventing the flow of firearms and ammunition across the southwest border.