$500,000 cocaine find in avocado shipment at US-Mexico border

At the Pharr International Bridge in Texas, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents recently uncovered cocaine valued over $500,000 hidden within an avocado shipment. During a secondary inspection initiated by an officer, the discovery was made possible through the aid of canines and a non-intrusive inspection system, revealing 16 packages with a total weight of 37.69 pounds of alleged cocaine inside the vehicle's trailer. The tractor and the narcotics were confiscated, with Homeland Security Investigations launching a criminal probe into the matter. According to CBP, this seizure is part of a broader effort to combat narcotics trafficking, as evidenced by the nationwide confiscation of over 53,783 pounds of cocaine in fiscal year 2024.

Carlos Rodriguez, the Port Director, emphasized the role of vigilant frontline officers and advanced technology in this significant seizure, underscoring its contribution to CBP's border security mission and community safety. The Laredo office in Texas, known for its high volume of border crossings, reported over 7,000 pounds of cocaine seized in fiscal year 2023, with the current fiscal year already seeing more than 4,000 pounds confiscated. Additional operations include a $33 million cocaine haul intercepted by CBP Air and Marine Operations off Puerto Rico's coast, with 60 bales weighing 3,687 pounds found near Vieques island.

 Another operation with the Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces for Rapid Action led to the seizure of cocaine worth over $5 million. In a separate incident, nearly $1 million worth of ketamine was seized at Washington Dulles International Airport from a suitcase originating from Amsterdam, further highlighting the ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking.