Federal Agents Seize Arsenal Bound for Mexican Drug Cartel in San Antonio Raid

Major Gun Trafficking Operation Uncovered

Federal agents have dismantled a significant firearms trafficking operation that was funneling weapons to Mexican drug cartels, culminating in the seizure of 24 firearms, including handguns, AR-15-style rifles and a shotgun, and more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition and multiple sets of body armor from a San Antonio home. The raid, conducted on July 16, 2025, represents the latest blow to cross-border criminal networks that supply cartels with American-made weapons.

The investigation began when Jose De La Cruz-Cardoza, a 52-year-old from the Mexican border town of Piedras Negras was arrested last July after border officers conducting outbound inspections at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry stopped him on his way to Mexico . Despite declaring he had no firearms, a Customs and Border Protection search of his vehicle revealed eight handguns and 19 magazines .

This arrest triggered a broader investigation that led agents to Reymundo Hernandez-Nino, a co-conspirator living in the U.S. illegally , whose San Antonio residence became the target of the major weapons seizure.

Disturbing Evidence of Cartel Connections

The San Antonio raid revealed more than just weapons. Photos shared by the U.S. Attorney's Office also show several statuettes of the Santa Muerte, or Holy Death, a figure often associated with organized crime . La Santa Muerte is a spiritual icon found among members of various Mexican drug cartels , providing clear evidence of the operation's cartel connections.

Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, as well as the San Antonio Police Department executed the search warrant as part of a coordinated federal effort. Based on other evidence, ATF determined that the weapons, ammunition, and accessories were bound for a Mexican drug cartel .

Cruz-Cardoza has since been sentenced in federal court in Del Rio to 180 months in prison for conspiracy to traffic firearms and fined $15,000 . Four co-defendants have also pleaded guilty in connection with the case .

Broader Impact on Border Security

This case illustrates the ongoing challenge of gun trafficking across the U.S.-Mexico border, where American firearms fuel cartel violence. "The illegal trafficking of firearms to Mexico directly fuels cartel violence and threatens the safety and communities on both sides of the border. ATF remains committed to working with our federal, state, local, and international partners to identify and disrupt firearms trafficking networks" , officials stated.

U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons emphasized his office's commitment to "prosecuting the most serious criminal conspiracies, particularly those benefiting Mexican drug cartels" . The case was prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America, a federal initiative to combat illegal immigration and dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations .

While federal officials did not disclose to which cartel the gun seizures were related , the operation demonstrates the sophisticated networks that move American weapons south while drugs flow north. As law enforcement agencies continue coordinating across jurisdictions, cases like this reveal both the scale of the challenge and the potential for disrupting these dangerous criminal enterprises through targeted investigations and international cooperation.