US Customs and Border Patrol officers made a historic seizure of over four million fentanyl pills, totaling more than half a ton, at the border Port of Lukeville in Arizona. The massive quantity of deadly opioids was discovered when officers pulled over a 20-year-old driver of a pickup truck hauling a sports recreation vehicle on a trailer and noticed anomalies in the trailer’s frame. A K9 team revealed 234 packages of drugs containing the fentanyl pills, marking the largest fentanyl seizure in CBP history.
Troy Miller, CBP Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner, emphasized the agency’s commitment to protecting the nation and disrupting the criminal activities of drug cartels. He praised the frontline officers and agents for their efforts in preventing deadly drugs from entering the country and poisoning communities. In a separate incident on July 12, CBP agents at the same port of entry seized 272 pounds of methamphetamine from a 45-year-old Mexican citizen driving a pickup truck towing a trailer. With the help of a K9 team, agents discovered 39 packages of methamphetamine and an additional five pounds of cocaine, leading to the arrest of both men involved in the drug busts.
The estimated street value of the drugs confiscated in both incidents is over $12.6 million, showcasing the significant impact of the seizures in preventing dangerous substances from reaching communities throughout the United States. Guadalupe Ramirez, Director of Field Operations for the Tucson Field Office, commended the CBP officers at the Port of Lukeville for their success in intercepting such a large amount of drugs. The agency’s efforts in combating drug trafficking at the border are highlighted by these recent seizures of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine.
The seizure of more than four million fentanyl pills at the Port of Lukeville underscores the ongoing threat of opioids entering the country and the critical role of CBP officers in intercepting these dangerous substances. The use of advanced technology and K9 teams in detecting concealed drugs highlights the agency’s commitment to preventing drug smuggling at border checkpoints. CBP’s vigilance in disrupting the activities of drug cartels and protecting communities from the harmful impact of illicit substances is evident in the record-breaking fentanyl seizure.
The Port of Lukeville, located about 150 miles southeast of Tucson, has become a crucial checkpoint for intercepting narcotics being smuggled into the United States. The recent drug busts at this border crossing demonstrate the perseverance and dedication of CBP officers in combating drug trafficking and safeguarding the nation’s borders. The significance of these seizures in preventing deadly drugs from reaching communities across the country underscores the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in intercepting illicit substances entering the country. The coordinated efforts of CBP officers and agents at the Port of Lukeville play a vital role in disrupting drug smuggling operations and protecting the public from the devastating consequences of drug abuse.
