Customs and Border Protection recently halted two vehicles, seizing over $300,000 worth of drugs in a single day. This comes as concerns about drug smuggling persist, despite a notable decrease in the number of migrants attempting to cross the U.S. southern border.
On Sunday, May 17th, an agent at the San Ysidro Port of Entry initiated a secondary inspection of a 2013 Honda Civic. They found an anomaly through an imaging system, leading to the discovery of six packages of fentanyl powder valued around $113,600, along with 8.4 pounds of cocaine estimated at $161,600.
In another incident on the same day, a 2011 Nissan Cube underwent a secondary inspection at the Calexico East Port of Entry, nearly 160 miles away. Scanning the vehicle revealed a flooring abnormality that contained 63 bags of methamphetamine.
Officials praised the work done by agents during these incidents. Sidney Aki, director of San Diego field operations, remarked, “While Sunday might be a day off for many, criminals don’t take a break, and neither do CBP officers.” He emphasized that continuous vigilance is crucial to their operations, which aim to keep dangerous drugs out of the country.
Interestingly, the Border Patrol recently reported a drop of over 90% in apprehensions year-on-year, as of April. Despite this decline, there have still been significant smuggling attempts involving weapons and drugs.
Even though the number of crossings has decreased dramatically—from over 144,000 in December 2024 to just about 10,000 in April—the agency believes these operations are in line with the ongoing efforts under President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
Earlier, CBP shared details surrounding a variety of concerning activities, such as intercepting a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and detaining dozens of migrants packed into a semi-truck. Their commitment to combatting illegal activities also extends to facilitating lawful travel for millions.
