With a Domestic Value of over $378,000 the seized items were found in violation of the Chinese Arms Embargo
LOS ANGELES — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport in coordination with the Machinery Center of Excellence and Expertise (CEE), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), intercepted and seized 52,601 firearms parts in violation of the Chinese Arms Embargo.
and grips had a combined domestic value
of $378,225.00.
The seized items described as sights, stocks, muzzles, brakes, buffer kits, and grips which arrived in three shipments from China, had a combined domestic value of $378,225.00.
CBP officers referred the items to ATF investigators, who confirmed that the firearm parts were in violation of the Arms Export Control Act and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 27 CFR 447.52.
“This seizure is an exceptional example of CBP officers and import specialists vigilance, commitment and keen focus in enforcing complex arms embargo regulations,” said Carlos C. Martel, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles. “The Chinese Arms Embargo is just one of the hundreds of regulations CBP enforces, ensuring the safety and security of our country.”
Federal regulations impose importation restrictions to certain countries to which the United States maintains an arms embargo, and one of such countries is China.
“We work closely with our strategic partners to ensure import compliance while maintaining the highest standards of security at our nation’s largest seaport,” remarked LaFonda Sutton-Burke, CBP Port Director of the LA/Long Beach Seaport. “This interception underscores the successful collaboration between CBP officers, import specialists and ATF investigators.”
Laws cited in the aforementioned firearm parts seizure include:
parts seized at the LA/Long Beach Seaport
19 USC 1595a(c)(2)(B)(e)
19 USC 1595a(c)(2)(A)
27 CFR 447.41
27 CFR 447.52
27 CFR 447.21
27 CFR 447.31
22 CFR 126.1
In fiscal year (FY) 2018, Office of Field Operations (OFO) seized 266,279 firearms, firearm parts, ammunition, fireworks and explosives at 328 ports of entry throughout the United States. These interceptions represent an increase of 18.4 percent from the previous year.
To learn more about firearms imports please visit:
- Chinese Arms Embargo
- International Traffic in Arms Regulation, ITAR
- ATF arms imports regulations
- 27 CFR 447.52
- CBP Centers of Excellence and Expertise (CEE)
CLARIFICATION: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Los Angeles Field Office is the primary federal law enforcement agency leading this investigation.
The public is asked to call 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) to report suspicious criminal activity to the ICE-HSI Tip Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year.
Office of Field Operations (OFO), is the largest component in CBP and is responsible for border security—including anti-terrorism, immigration, anti-smuggling, trade compliance, and agriculture protection—while simultaneously facilitating the lawful trade and travel at U.S. ports of entry that is critical to our Nation’s economy.