Customs and Border Protection officers seized more than $300,000 worth of illegal narcotics in two separate smuggling attempts at Southern California ports of entry, highlighting the continued flow of drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border even as illegal immigration levels have fallen sharply in recent months.
The seizures took place on Sunday, May 17, at two different border crossings roughly 100 miles apart.
At the San Ysidro Port of Entry, CBP officers referred a 2013 Honda Civic for secondary inspection after an imaging scan revealed irregularities in the vehicle’s firewall. During the inspection, officers discovered six packages containing white fentanyl powder as well as several pounds of cocaine concealed inside the vehicle.
According to CBP, the fentanyl carried an estimated street value of approximately $113,600, while the cocaine was valued at roughly $161,600. Authorities seized both the narcotics and the vehicle.
Later that same day, officers at the Calexico East Port of Entry encountered another suspected smuggling attempt. A 2011 Nissan Cube was sent to secondary inspection after scanning equipment detected anomalies in the vehicle’s flooring.
A more thorough examination uncovered 63 packages of methamphetamine hidden inside the vehicle. The drugs were confiscated, and the case was referred for further investigation.
CBP officials credited the successful interceptions to the vigilance of officers working at the nation’s ports of entry.
“Sunday may be a day of rest for many, but criminals don’t take days off, and neither do our CBP officers,” San Diego Director of Field Operations Sidney Aki said in a statement.
“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,” Aki added.
The seizures come amid a dramatic decline in illegal border crossings along the southern border. According to CBP data, migrant encounters have fallen significantly since late 2024. Border authorities recorded more than 144,000 encounters in December 2024, compared to approximately 10,000 encounters in April 2026.
Federal officials have pointed to enhanced enforcement measures and border security efforts implemented under President Donald Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin as contributing factors in the decline.
Despite the reduction in migrant encounters, CBP says criminal organizations continue to pursue other forms of cross-border smuggling. In recent months, the agency has announced several notable interdictions involving narcotics, weapons, and human smuggling operations.
Among those cases were the seizure of a vehicle carrying a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, the discovery of dozens of migrants packed inside a semi-truck, and the interception of a vessel near the Dominican Republic with assistance from a Black Hawk helicopter.
CBP says its officers remain focused on both preventing illegal activity and facilitating lawful travel through the nation’s ports of entry.
“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,” the agency said in a statement.
