In a gritty display of law enforcement efficiency, Customs and Border Protection officers at South Texas ports have made a significant dent in narcotics trafficking during Fiscal Year 2025. An announcement, outlined by a statement obtained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, reported a tremendous 62 percent increase in hard narcotics seized over the previous fiscal year.
Donald R. Kusser, Director, Field Operations at the Laredo Field Office, attributed this success to the admirable efforts of the frontline CBP officers, amassing an impressive arsenal of narcotics stopped in its tracks. According to the report, the tireless work of the officers culminated in the confiscation of 71,733 pounds of narcotics, working out to nearly $674 million in street value. The significant uptick included 3,453 pounds of marijuana, 12,397 pounds of cocaine, 54,994 pounds of methamphetamine, nearly 236 pounds of heroin, and 196 pounds of fentanyl.
In addition to drugs, important figures were noted in the seizure of illicit materials with $5.4 million in unreported currency, 514 weapons, and 54,896 rounds of ammunition being intercepted. While drugs stole the spotlight, these numbers are hardly negligible in the ongoing skirmish against cross-border smuggling.
There was, however, a silver lining for border security officials. Officers encountered more than 89,038 inadmissible persons, a decline that reflects the Trump Administration's staunch immigration enforcement posture and the discontinuation of the CBP One system. In the war against unwanted pests, CBP agriculture specialists have also stayed vigilant, intercepting 88,060 quarantine items and 1,791 pests that could be harmful to the local ecosystem and economy.
