Two “tourist visa” Mexican nationals caught with enough ammunition to arm a small army – complete with headlight violations and conflicting stories about why they had 180,000 rounds bound for parts unknown.
At a Glance
- Caesar Ramon Martinez Solis (41) and Humberto Ivan Amador Gavira (24), Mexican nationals on nonimmigrant visas, were arrested with 180,000 rounds of ammunition after a routine traffic stop in Colorado
- The pair was caught with 150 boxes of .308 ammunition and 30 boxes of 7.62 ammunition – each box containing 1,000 rounds
- Both suspects provided conflicting stories about the ammunition’s purpose and destination
- The case is part of “Operation Take Back America,” a federal initiative targeting illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations
Just a Routine Traffic Stop
It started with something as simple as failing to dim headlights and not using a turn signal. When Canon City police officers pulled over a van on March 26, 2023, they couldn’t have imagined they were about to intercept one of the largest ammunition smuggling operations in recent memory. The van’s occupants, Caesar Ramon Martinez Solis and Humberto Ivan Amador Gavira, apparently thought following basic traffic laws was optional while transporting enough ammunition to supply a small insurrection. Let that sink in – they couldn’t even be bothered to use a turn signal while hauling contraband that could fuel cartel wars for months.
What followed was straight out of a border security nightmare. Officers discovered approximately 150 boxes of .308 ammunition and 30 boxes of 7.62 ammunition, each containing 1,000 rounds. For those keeping score at home, that’s 180,000 rounds of high-powered rifle ammunition – not exactly what you’d expect to find during a routine traffic stop for a busted license plate lamp. Both men were in the United States on nonimmigrant visas, which explicitly prohibit possessing weapons or ammunition. Because apparently “don’t smuggle enough ammo to start a civil war” was buried in the visa paperwork’s fine print.
Mexican nationals found with 180,000 rounds of ammo
Federal charges have been filed against two men from Mexico who were found with 180,000 rounds of ammunition.
Our sister station, Fox 21 in Colorado Springs, reports that Caesar Ramon Martinez Solis, 41, and Humberto Ivan… pic.twitter.com/NgwzTcMRCd
— Deborah (@Deborah07849071) April 20, 2025
Conflicting Stories and Suspicious Circumstances
When questioned, the story got even more bizarre. Martinez Solis claimed Amador Gavira was his brother-in-law who had entered the U.S. just a day before the arrest. According to Martinez Solis, they had traveled from Denver to Salt Lake City supposedly to “purchase a vehicle,” but somehow ended up purchasing enough ammunition to supply a small army instead. When you go looking for a used car but come home with 180,000 rounds of ammunition, you might want to reconsider your shopping habits – or at least your cover story.
“a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.” – federal prosecutors
When questioned by Homeland Security agents, Martinez Solis waived his right to an attorney – first red flag right there – and claimed ignorance about the ammunition’s intended purpose. He believed it was somehow destined for Pueblo, Colorado. Meanwhile, he fingered Amador Garcia as the actual purchaser from a firearms store in Salt Lake City. Ah yes, the old “I have no idea why my companion just bought enough ammo to wage a small war” defense. Seems legit.
Part of a Larger Operation
This isn’t just an isolated incident of two bumbling criminals with poor driving habits. Federal prosecutors have described this case as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative against illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations. The investigation involves the Denver Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives – a veritable alphabet soup of agencies trying to stem the tide of weapons flowing across our borders.
“to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations.” – Officials
Both men were charged with Unlawful Possession of Ammunition by Alien Admitted Under a Nonimmigrant Visa, which seems almost comically insufficient given the scale of what they were attempting. This is what happens when we have open borders and lax enforcement – foreigners on tourist visas shop for ammunition like they’re at a Costco, buying in bulk with apparent ease. Meanwhile, law-abiding American citizens face waiting periods, background checks, and magazine capacity restrictions just to exercise their Second Amendment rights. Only in Biden’s America could two foreign nationals casually purchase enough ammunition to supply a small war.
