Customs and Border Protection officers stopped two vehicles at separate southern border crossings on Sunday and seized more than $300,000 worth of narcotics, according to the agency.
The seizures come as illegal border crossings have dropped sharply in recent months, even as federal officials continue to report attempts to smuggle drugs, weapons and people into the United States.
The first seizure happened May 17 at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, where officers referred a 2013 Honda Civic for a secondary inspection. During the search, an imaging system flagged irregularities in the vehicle’s firewall. Officers then found six packages of white fentanyl powder, which CBP estimated to be worth about $113,600. They also found 8.4 pounds of cocaine with an estimated value of $161,600.
Later that same day, at the Calexico East Port of Entry roughly 100 miles away, officers sent a 2011 Nissan Cube for secondary inspection. A scan of that vehicle showed anomalies in the flooring, where officers eventually discovered 63 packets of methamphetamine.
Officials said both seizures showed the continued pressure smugglers are placing on ports of entry, even as overall immigration encounters at the border have fallen.
“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.
“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,” he added.
CBP has said its enforcement efforts are part of the broader border security priorities set by President Donald Trump and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Those operations have continued during a period in which border encounters have dropped significantly.
Since the end of 2024, reported border crossings have fallen from more than 144,000 encounters in December 2024 to about 10,000 in April, according to CBP figures.
Even with that decline, the agency has continued to announce major smuggling cases along the southern border and in nearby maritime areas. Recent reports from CBP have described officers stopping a vehicle carrying a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, finding dozens of migrants packed inside a semi-truck and helping detain a boat off the coast of the Dominican Republic with support from a Black Hawk helicopter.
The agency said its officers remain focused on stopping illegal activity while continuing to process lawful travel and trade through U.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,” CBP said in a statement.
