DEL RIO , Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Brackettville station arrested a man with a pistol during a failed smuggling attempt, Feb. 12.

“Our agents are encountering armed smugglers now more than ever before,” said Del Rio Sector Chief Patrol Agent Raul L. Ortiz, “These are dangerous criminals who continue to show little regard for human life.”

Agents near Brackettville performed a vehicle stop on a 2019 Nissan sport utility vehicle. After a brief immigration inspection, the driver, a 21-year-old U.S. citizen, was arrested for attempting to smuggle five illegal aliens farther into the United States. The illegal aliens were all nationals of Ecuador. While performing a search of the vehicle, agents discovered a Taurus 9-mm handgun located under the driver’s seat.

The smuggler faces felony charges under 8 USC 1324, alien smuggling, and if convicted could receive up to 10 years in prison. All illegal aliens were citizens of Ecuador and will processed in accordance with U.S. Customs and Border Protection guidelines.