More than 35 pounds of fentanyl pills were intercepted at the Calexico Port of Entry today, keeping a massive shipment of the deadly opioid from moving farther into the United States. The seizure was announced by federal border officials, who provided few details about how the drugs were discovered. No suspect, vehicle, street value, arrest or criminal charges were identified.
Director of Field Operations Sidney Aki announced the seizure in a post on X, saying CBP officers at Calexico had stopped over 35 lbs of fentanyl pills. The post did not specify whether the drugs were found at the Calexico West or Calexico East crossing, and it did not say whether the pills were counterfeit or how they were concealed.
🇺🇸 Stopped at the Port! CBP officers at the Calexico Port of Entry successfully intercepted over 35 lbs of dangerous fentanyl pills.
— Director of Field Operations Sidney Aki (@DFOSanDiegoCA) July 29, 2026
Thanks to the continuous vigilance of our officers, these lethal drugs were stopped from hitting our streets. ❌#OFOproud #CBP #Calexico pic.twitter.com/chWbZPqf05
Officials Have Not Released Suspect Or Smuggling Details
For now, the announcement appears to be a preliminary account rather than a full case release. CBP has not said whether the shipment was found during a vehicle inspection, whether anyone was taken into custody or which agency will handle any follow-up investigation.
Calexico has seen several major narcotics seizures this year, including an April interception involving more than 1,000 pounds of liquid methamphetamine at the commercial crossing, as detailed by Hoodline. A separate May operation at Calexico East also led officers to more than 119 pounds of methamphetamine hidden inside a passenger vehicle, according to Hoodline's report.
DEA Warns Counterfeit Pills Can Be Deadly
The Drug Enforcement Administration says as little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be a potentially deadly dose, and warns that pills made to resemble legitimate medication may contain fentanyl without any reliable quality control. The agency's current One Pill Can Kill guidance urges people to take medication only when it is prescribed by a medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacy.
Until CBP releases more information, the size of the seizure is the clearest takeaway: more than 35 pounds of fentanyl pills were stopped at a California border crossing, while details about the alleged smuggling attempt remain under investigation.
