Feds detain 2 at Beaufort post office, alleging illegal international weapon shipment
Two people were arrested at a Beaufort post office Thursday in a federal operation targeting the illegal mailing of weapons, officials say.
A man and woman were detained and arrested outside the post office at 11 Robert Smalls Parkway around 4 p.m. after allegedly receiving illegal firearms or firearm parts through the U.S. Postal Service, Breslin Steverson of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service said in an email.
It was a joint operation between the USPIS, Homeland Security Investigations and the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, Steverson said. He added that HSI was involved due to the suspect package “originating in another country.”
Photos from WSAV-TV show one man handcuffed outside the post office, flanked by a HSI agent and a Beaufort County deputy. Several other federal agents stood nearby.
One suspect is a teenager
One of the two suspects, 18-year-old Burton resident Brandon Treymayne Anderson, was booked into the Beaufort jail Thursday evening on a county charge of felony illegal firearm possession, Breslin confirmed. The teenager had not been federally charged in relation to the alleged illegal delivery as of Friday.
Breslin declined to identify the female detainee, who he said had since been released. He said both the woman and Anderson could be federally charged under the National Firearms Act and Gun Control Act of 1986, legislation that heavily regulates the transport of weapons across state lines and international borders.
Allen said the sheriff’s office took part in the post office operation as an “assisting agency” and deferred other questions to the federal officials leading the investigation.
How the weapons or parts were found
Asked how the firearms or firearm parts were discovered prior to Thursday’s arrests, Steverson said postal inspectors use “profiles” to identify packages that may have illegal contents.
“It is to be noted that a postal inspector cannot open any parcel without consent from the shipper or a receiver or search warrant issued by a federal judge,” he added.
Any other information on the case is being withheld “to protect the integrity of the investigation,” Steverson said on Friday.
This story was originally published May 1, 2026 at 1:01 PM.
