U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers intercepted approximately $10.8 million worth of cocaine concealed within a commercial tractor-trailer carrying cabbage at the Pharr Port of Entry in Texas. The discovery was made Monday during a routine inspection.
A canine unit alerted officers to a hidden load within the trailer, which was further investigated using nonintrusive imaging. A subsequent physical search revealed 477 packages containing 1,173 pounds of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $10,787,500.
CBP seized both the narcotics and the commercial truck. Carlos Rodriguez, Port Director for the Hidalgo Port of Entry, stated that the interception demonstrates the agency's continuous efforts to detect and deter illegal activities at the border. "The threat of illicit narcotics is constant, but so is our vigilance," Rodriguez said in a statement.
This seizure occurs amid significant investments in border security and record staffing levels within CBP. Congress has allocated substantial funding to the agency, including $64 billion through former President Trump's initiatives and an additional $26 billion for the Department of Homeland Security. CBP recently reported reaching a record high of 21,471 officers, the most in its 102-year history.
Despite these investments, smuggling operations continue to pose a threat. In a separate incident in April, CBP reported preventing the entry of a vehicle carrying numerous weapons, including a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and multiple rifles and rifle parts. The agency also noted a dramatic decrease in border crossings, with encounters falling by 90% from December 2024 to May, from over 144,000 to 13,500.