Customs and Border Protection (CBP) intercepted two vehicles and seized narcotics worth over $300,000 in a single day. These actions highlight the ongoing challenge of drug smuggling across the southern U.S. border, even as immigration numbers have significantly decreased in recent months.
Incidents at San Ysidro and Calexico East Ports
On Sunday, May 17, CBP agents at the San Ysidro Port of Entry redirected a 2013 Honda Civic for a secondary inspection. They found six packages of white fentanyl powder valued at about $113,600, along with 8.4 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $161,600, after an imaging system indicated irregularities in the car’s firewall.
That same day, approximately 100 miles away at the Calexico East Port of Entry, a 2011 Nissan Cube was also referred for secondary inspection. Officers discovered 63 packets of methamphetamine following a scan that revealed anomalies in the vehicle’s flooring.
“Sunday may be a day of rest for many, but criminals don’t take days off, and neither do our CBP officers,” said Sidney Aki, San Diego Director of Field Operations. “Our officers remain vigilant around the clock, and these significant seizures are a direct result of their commitment to keeping dangerous drugs like these from entering our country.”
Ongoing Efforts and Recent Developments
CBP attributes these operations to ongoing initiatives started under former President Donald Trump and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Border crossings have decreased dramatically since the end of 2024, dropping from over 144,000 encounters in December 2024 to approximately 10,000 by April.
Despite the drop in immigration, CBP continues to report notable smuggling attempts involving weapons, drugs, and human trafficking. Recent reports include preventing a vehicle with a rocket-propelled grenade launcher from crossing the border and detaining a boat off the coast of the Dominican Republic with the assistance of a Black Hawk helicopter.
“CBP officers along the southwest border stop illegal activity, including the smuggling of drugs and humans, and facilitate lawful entry for millions of legitimate travelers into the United States,” CBP stated.
Leo Briceno, a politics reporter at Fox News Digital, covers these developments. He has also worked as a reporter for World Magazine.