TUCSON, AZ — A Tucson woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly trying to smuggle thousands of rounds of rifle ammunition from Arizona into Mexico, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
Andrea Villalva, 32, was charged with one count of Smuggling Goods from the United States after Customs and Border Protection officers discovered 8,000 rounds of 5.56 XP193 rifle ammunition hidden in the trunk of her car during a vehicle inspection at the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales on March 7, 2024.
Officials say the ammunition was packed in eight sealed cases, concealed behind the rear wall of Villalva’s vehicle.
According to the complaint, Villalva admitted to being paid $150 per box of ammunition that she successfully smuggled into Mexico. She also told investigators that she had previously smuggled ammunition on three other occasions.
If convicted, Villalva faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America, a national initiative led by the U.S. Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration, transnational criminal organizations, and violent crime.
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations, and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie A. Sottosanti in Tucson.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized that an indictment is not a conviction, and that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
