Over One Ton of Drugs Seized at California-Mexico Border Crossing in July

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers intercepted over a ton of narcotics at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in July.
CBP officers confiscated a combined total of 2,628 pounds of illegal narcotics in 50 separate drug busts involving suspected smugglers applying for entry into the United States from Mexico, the agency said in a statement on Thursday.
Law enforcement officials seized 2,266.15 pounds of methamphetamine, 169.5 pounds of cocaine, 173.91 pounds of fentanyl, and 18.24 pounds of heroin. The narcotics were concealed “throughout and within vehicles” used to cross through the port of entry, according to the CBP.
“CBP Officers will continue to use their skillsets and knowhow to intercept illegal and illicit narcotics that are encountered at the Port of Entry,” said Mariza Marin, port director for the San Ysidro Port of Entry. “Our staff is fully invested in safeguarding the American people from these harmful substances and demonstrates the highest levels of service to our nation through their extraordinary efforts each and every day.”
Suspects involved in the drug busts were turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for further inquiries.
CBP officers seized the narcotics and vehicles used for drug smuggling following each incident.
The operations are part of ongoing CBP efforts to halt the trafficking of illicit narcotics into the country.
Dr. Terri Beth Miller, senior editor at Rehab.com, told Newsweek: “Meth, fentanyl and heroin are not only among the most commonly abused substances; they’re also among the most dangerous. These drugs carry significant risks that may include life-threatening overdoses, drug-related injuries, and severe and chronic illnesses.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health statistics, there were an estimated 107,543 drug overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2023.
Over $11 million worth of blue fentanyl pills were seized by CBP officers at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in March. The San Ysidro Port of Entry is the busiest land border crossing in the country.
In one case in California, officers confiscated more than $5 million worth of methamphetamine after smugglers had disguised 4,587 pounds of meth by wrapping the packages in bright green plastic with stripes, making them resemble small watermelons.
Meanwhile, in Texas, officers seized more than $3 million in cocaine this month, in the largest narcotics haul so far this year at the Rio Grande City Port of Entry.
Over 145,698 pounds of methamphetamine have been seized nationwide in fiscal year 2024, according to CBP data.
Law enforcement officials at the U.S.-Mexico border seized 132,655 pounds of meth in the Southwest border alone in the 2023-2024 fiscal year as of July 2024.
CBP officers confiscated 53,783 pounds of cocaine nationwide in fiscal 2024 and 24,152 pounds of cocaine around the Southwest border as of July 2024.
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