US Border Agents Seize 139.5 Kilos of Cocaine, Fentanyl, and Meth at Texas Port
On February 28, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the Paso del Norte Port of Entry in El Paso, Texas, seized a total of 139.5 kilograms of narcotics concealed within a 2016 Dodge Ram pickup truck. The driver, a male Mexican national, was attempting to cross into the United States when officers detected suspicious anomalies using nonintrusive inspection technology. A trained canine further confirmed the presence of illicit substances.
The search revealed 122 bundles of drugs: 107 bundles of cocaine weighing approximately 122.84 kilograms, 13 bundles of fentanyl totaling 14.86 kilograms, and 2 bundles of methamphetamine weighing 1.84 kilograms. This sizable interdiction prevents a substantial quantity of highly dangerous narcotics from entering the U.S. and reaching street-level distribution.
The operation highlights ongoing efforts by CBP to disrupt cross-border drug trafficking, which fuels addiction and crime in American communities. The shipment contained large amounts of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid linked to a surge in overdose deaths nationwide. Preventing these shipments is critical for protecting public health and safety.
Border security officials continue to rely on advanced technology and canine units to detect concealed drugs, reflecting the increasing complexity and scale of smuggling tactics used by criminal organizations. The seizure underscores the persistent threat posed by narcotics trafficking along the U.S.-Mexico border.
