CBP at Progreso Port Of Entry Arrest Man Wanted by ATF/USMS for Straw Purchase

Progreso, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Progreso Port of Entry apprehended a man on an active arrest warrant from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for a straw purchase of firearms in McAllen.

On Saturday a CBP police officer working pedestrian enforcement operations at the Progreso International Bridge came in contact with a man identified as 20-year-old Aaron Aleman, a United States citizen who resides in Hidalgo. The primary CBP officer’s queries revealed an active arrest warrant for Aleman from the U.S. Marshals Service in McAllen. Aleman was escorted to CBP secondary for further examination and identification. A CBP officer’s secondary checks of a national database confirmed the active arrest warrant for Aleman from the ATF for a straw purchase of firearms in McAllen. Aleman was arrested by CBP officers and subsequently turned over to the U.S. Marshals Service for transportation to the Hidalgo Country jail.

“Our CBP officer’s vigilance, inspection techniques and use of a national database at primary contributed to the identification of Aaron Aleman as a wanted fugitive; I commend our CBP officers for the arrest of this wanted fugitive by the ATF for a straw purchase of firearms charge," said Nancy Becker, CBP port director, Progreso/Donna Port of Entry.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.