On April 07, 2015, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agents from Eagle Pass received information that a White Dodge Pickup was involved in smuggling weapons from the Mendoza & Hernandez (M&H) business located on Highway 57 in Eagle Pass, Texas. Agents observed a 2006 White Dodge Ram bearing Mexican license plates, a 2007 Ford Explorer bearing Mexican license plates and a 2014 White Audi A5 bearing at the M&H business parking lot.
A male individual later identified as Eduardo Hinojosa, a United States
citizen, was observed loading boxes into the Ford Explorer. Maverick County Sheriffs Office (MCSO) later initiated a traffic stop on the 2007 ford Explorer due to the vehicle not signaling during a lane change.
The Ford Explorer was occupied by Gily Natividad Ajin Cordova the driver and a passenger Elizabeth Cervantes-Mateos both Mexican citizens.
AJIN gave verbal consent to search the vehicle. During the consent to search of the Ford Explorer deputies discovered a 243 Rifle Winchester, a Beretta 12 Gauge Shotgun and 1088 rounds of various calibers of ammunition. During surveillance, agents observed Hinojosa and Jose Mendoza Hemandez unloading boxes into a storage facility in Eagle Pass, TX. Agents maintained surveillance on Hinojosa and Mendoza as they left the storage facility.
Hinojosa was observed driving in a White Dodge Ram to the Wal-Mart in Eagle Pass where a traffic stop was initiated by MCSO for running a red light at the traffic light on Bibb at the Wal-Mart entrance.
HSI Special Agents responded to the scene of the stop and advised Hinojosa verbally of his Miranda Rights and Hinojosa waived his rights. Hinojosa admitted that he left the storage facility where he had dropped off ammunition.
Hinojosa gave consent to agents to search the storage facility where 3 boxes of shot gun shells were found. Customs and Border Protection Officers encountered the White Audi driven by Mendoza at the outbound lanes of Port of Entry #2 in Eagle Pass.
HSI Special Agents responded and advised Mendoza of his Miranda
Rights which Mendoza waived and gave a statement to agents. Mendoza stated he knew the 243 rifle and 4 boxes of ammunition were being exported to Mexico and had a friend purchase the weapon. Mendoza stated he knew it was illegal to take weapons into Mexico.
Hinojosa stated he tasked Ajin and Cervantes into taking the guns into Mexico and knew it was illegal to cross the weapons into Mexico. AJIN stated she knew there were weapons in the vehicle and knew it was illegal to export weapons to Mexico. Cervantes stated she had knowledge of ammunition being present in the vehicle and knew it was illegal to take it to Mexico.