Mexican national sentenced to federal prison for attempted firearms smuggling, following ICE Arizona investigation

YUMA, Ariz. — A local area man was sentenced April 7 to more than three years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after attempting to smuggle firearms and suspected narcotics across the border into Mexico, following a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation.

“Trafficking firearms to Mexico is a federal offense and further it directly contributes to transnational organized crime that explicitly endangers public safety on both sides of the border,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigation Arizona Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola. “HSI and our law enforcement partners will stop at nothing to curb any attempts of firearms smuggling that has proven time and time again to severely impact communities.”

Abel Airam Franco Garcia, 22, of Sonora, Mexico previously plead guilty to smuggling goods from the United States.

Franco Garcia’s conviction stems from an incident that occurred June 25, 2024, when authorities stopped him at the San Luis, Arizona, Port of Entry. An inspection of his vehicle led to the discovery of four firearms, six magazines — including two high-capacity ones — ammunition, and suspected fentanyl. Franco Garcia confessed to driving to Phoenix earlier that day, and that individuals were paying him to transport the firearms to Mexico.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice aims to bolster PSN through measures that build community trust, endorse violence-prevention organizations, prioritize strategic enforcement and evaluate outcomes.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Goldberg from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona in Phoenix handled the prosecution.