"Ghost guns" seized in "Operation Casper," a six-month investigation by county, local and federal law enforcement in Westchester and Putnam counties are on display Jan. 27, 2022 at Westchester Police Academy in Valhalla. More than 100 weapons, including rifles, handguns, "ghost guns" and high-capacity drum magazines were seized and 11 people were arrested facing state and federal charges. GUNS
San Diego, California – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the San Diego Sector halted an alleged human smuggling operation Wednesday evening, uncovering a cache of loaded firearms and arresting two suspected smugglers along with two individuals found to be in the country illegally.
The incident occurred at approximately 8:45 p.m. along eastbound Interstate 8 near the remote community of Jacumba Hot Springs, when agents from the Campo Station conducted a stop on a Ford pickup truck. During the immigration inspection, agents discovered what they identified as a smuggling attempt involving two Mexican nationals—classified by authorities as “illegal aliens”—and two individuals suspected of orchestrating the transport: a male U.S. citizen and a female Mexican national with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status.
A search of the vehicle yielded three fully loaded firearms: two handguns and one untraceable “ghost gun”-style rifle, which lacked a serial number. The weapons, along with 23 rounds of 5.56mm rifle ammunition, 69 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and six magazines, were seized. According to officials, the handguns were registered to a person not present in the vehicle.
All four individuals were transported to the Campo Station for processing. The principal suspect, identified as the U.S. citizen, and the co-principal suspect, the DACA recipient, face federal felony charges. The charges include violations of 8 U.S.C. § 1324, which prohibits the bringing in and harboring of unauthorized immigrants, and 18 U.S.C. § 922(a), which governs unlawful acts involving firearms.
The two Mexican nationals will be processed for removal to Mexico, according to the agency.
In a statement released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Acting Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey D. Stalnaker of the San Diego Sector emphasized the danger posed by the combination of human smuggling and illegally possessed firearms.
“These human smugglers and the unlawful weapons that were seized posed a significant danger to the community,” Stalnaker said. “Every day, our Border Patrol agents put themselves in harm’s way to protect American lives. This incident is a glaring example of that and their never-ending commitment to protect America.”
The seizure underscores growing concerns at the intersection of immigration enforcement and gun trafficking. “Ghost guns”—privately assembled firearms often lacking serial numbers—have drawn increased scrutiny in recent years due to their potential to circumvent standard background checks and registration systems.
Border Patrol officials did not release the names of those apprehended, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
The stop near Jacumba Hot Springs marks the latest in a series of enforcement actions carried out by the San Diego Sector, which spans nearly 60 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. The region includes some of the most rugged terrain in the borderlands and has seen increased enforcement activity in response to both unauthorized migration and concerns over transnational crime.
Further details about the suspects’ background or whether additional charges may be filed are expected in the coming days as federal authorities continue their investigation.
