U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted millions of dollars worth of drugs, wildlife and illegal imports at ports of entry across the country in March, highlighting the continued use of commercial freight shipments and trucks in smuggling operations.
The total drug value seized in March was $19.8 million.
The largest bust occurred at the Pharr International Bridge in Texas, where CBP officers discovered nearly 2,000 pounds of methamphetamine worth more than $17.7 million.
The methamphetamine was hidden inside a shipment of blackberries on a commercial tractor-trailer entering from Mexico. Homeland Security Investigations launched a criminal probe following the seizure.
Drugs hidden in trucks, fuel tanks and trailers
CBP officers also seized nearly $1.7 million worth of cocaine hidden inside a commercial truck at the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge in Laredo after a canine inspection led officers to 54 packages of narcotics inside an empty trailer.
At the World Trade Bridge in Laredo, officers discovered cocaine and heroin worth more than $365,000 hidden inside a box truck, resulting in the driver’s arrest.
In another case, CBP officers at the Otay Mesa cargo facility in California uncovered 944 pounds of liquid methamphetamine concealed inside a tractor-trailer’s fuel tank. Officers extracted 29 buckets of the drug from the tank after detecting a gel-like substance mixed with diesel fuel.
Smuggling goes beyond narcotics
Smuggling attempts weren’t limited to drugs. CBP officers conducting outbound inspections at the World Trade Bridge intercepted 39 live pythons hidden inside a tractor headed to Mexico.
The reptiles were turned over to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents, and penalties totaling more than $34,000 were issued for export violations.
CBP officers in Norfolk, Virginia, also seized a shipment of 35 non-compliant electric bikes imported from China after federal regulators determined the vehicles failed to meet U.S. safety standards.
The cases underscore how drug trafficking organizations and smugglers continue to exploit commercial supply chains — from produce shipments to fuel tanks — to move illegal goods across borders.
March CBP Seizures at U.S. Ports of Entry (Cargo Smuggling Roundup)
| Location | Commodity Seized | Amount | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharr International Bridge (TX) | Methamphetamine (hidden in blackberries) | 1,984 lbs | $17.7 million |
| Colombia-Solidarity Bridge, Laredo (TX) | Cocaine | 129 lbs | $1.73 million |
| World Trade Bridge, Laredo (TX) | Cocaine & Heroin | 26 lbs total | $365,079 |
| Otay Mesa Cargo Facility (CA) | Liquid Meth (in fuel tank) | 944 lbs | Not listed |
| World Trade Bridge, Laredo (TX) | Live pythons (wildlife smuggling) | 39 pythons | $34,824 in penalties |
| Norfolk, VA Port | Non-compliant e-bikes from China | 35 units | Not liste |
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