While not reaching records set in 2020-2021 we're seeing some significant drug smuggling attempts at our borders this year. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been busy thwarting these shipments and keeping millions of dollars worth of drugs off of American streets.
We've got a countdown of 2023's most audacious drug trafficking attempts.
10. Peace Bridge, Buffalo, New York
Drug Type: Marijuana and Ketamine
Street Value: $2,000,000
Weight: 2,092 pounds of marijuana and 112 pounds of ketamine
Date Seized: July 27, 2023
Drugs were concealed in a tractor-trailer loaded with frozen waffles.
9. Calexico East Cargo Facility, Calexico, California
Drug Type: Cocaine
Street Value: $1,500,000
Weight: 120 pounds
Date Seized: March 15, 2023
CBP officers encountered a truck and trailer with a shipment declared as watermelons. During an intensive examination, a CBP canine alerted officers to the shipment. They discovered 22 wrapped packages of cocaine hidden within plastic pallets.
8. Cargo Facility, Tecate, California
Drug Type: Cocaine
Street Value: $4,100,000
Weight: 256 pounds
Date Seized: January 11, 2023
CBP officers found cocaine concealed within decorative rocks, hidden in a plaster-like material designed to appear like stones.
7. Pharr International Bridge cargo facility, Pharr, Texas
Drug Type: Methamphetamine
Street Value: $4,360,000
Weight: 488 pounds (221.5 kg)
Date Seized: August 4, 2023
Methamphetamine was discovered concealed within a shipment of mixed vegetables.
6. Calexico Port of Entry, Calexico, California
Drug Type: Methamphetamine
Street Value: $5,475,600
Weight: 4,563 pounds
Date Seized: January 31, 2023
Methamphetamine was found concealed within a shipment of radishes.
5. Pharr International Bridge, Pharr, Texas
Drug Type: Methamphetamine
Weight: 3,373 pounds
Estimated Value: $7, 400,000
Date: March 28, 2023
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility discovered the alleged methamphetamine concealed within a shipment of charcoal.
4. World Trade Bridge, Laredo, Texas
Drug Type: Marijuana
Weight: 3,373 pounds
Estimated Value: $7, 546,946
Date: January 14, 2023
Marijuana was found within a shipment of cotton candy following a canine and non-intrusive inspection.
3. Colombia-Solidarity Bridge, Laredo, Texas
Drug Type: Methamphetamine
Weight: 2,136 pounds
Estimated Value: $19,093, 110
Date: August 7, 2023
A shipment of plaster was found to contain methamphetamine. The discovery was made after a canine and non-intrusive inspection revealed inconsistencies.
2. Otay Mesa port of entry, Otay Mesa, California
Drug Type: Fentanyl pills
Street Value: $21,120,000
Weight: 776.03 pounds (pills)
Date Seized: April 17, 2023
CBP officers found 3,520,000 fentanyl pills hidden within a shipment of green beans. The narcotics were detected during an intensive agriculture inspection, and a detector dog alerted officers to the presence of drugs.
1. Otay Mesa Cargo Facility, Otay Mesa, California
Drug Type: Methamphetamine
Street Value: $38,070,910
Weight: 5,788.41 pounds
Date Seized: May 27, 2023
Drugs were concealed within a shipment of kale. CBP officers discovered 268 packages hidden within the shipment of kale after observing irregularities during a non-intrusive inspection.
Some DIShonorable Mentions:
Otay Mesa port of entry, Otay Mesa, California
Drug Type: Fentanyl pills
Weight: 776.03 pounds
Estimated Street Value: $21,120,000
The fentanyl pills were concealed within a shipment of green beans. A total of 308 packages were extracted after CBP officers noticed irregularities during a non-intrusive inspection and subsequent alert by a detector dog.
I-55 near Springfield, Illinois
Drug Type: Cocaine
Weight: 227 pounds
Estimated Street Value: Not provided
During a routine inspection, an ISP trooper stopped a tractor trailer. The two men inside became suspicious, leading the trooper to search the vehicle. The search revealed about 227 pounds of suspected cocaine.
Blue Water Bridge, Port Huron, Michigan
Drug Type: Cocaine
Weight: 200 pounds
Estimated Street Value: Not provided
CBP officers were inspecting outbound commercial cargo when they discovered the cocaine. The narcotics were found co-mingled among a shipment of goods.
Hi! I'm Adriana and I've been working for FreightCaviar as Head Writer for a little over a year now. Some of my favorite topics to cover are FreightTech, Green Freight, and nearshoring/reshoring.
