Overview
- Emilio Ramirez Cortes and his son, Edgar Emilio Ramirez Diaz, were charged after their initial court appearances in Laredo and remain in custody pending a detention hearing on Oct. 31.
- Authorities say the Oct. 23 stop at the Juarez-Lincoln Port of Entry involved two vehicles traveling in tandem with enclosed utility trailers concealing rifles, pistols, magazines and ammunition behind false walls.
- CBP officers directed the vehicles to secondary inspection, where a canine alert and X-ray scans preceded the discovery of the hidden compartments, according to the criminal complaint.
- The complaint alleges the Alabama-based defendants were paid to transport the loads, acknowledged they knew they were moving guns to Mexico, and referenced multiple prior trips.
- ICE-HSI, ATF and CBP led the investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office says Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling is prosecuting, and officials cite broader efforts under Operation Take Back America and recent CBP data showing frequent outbound firearm seizures.