CBP Officers at South Texas Ports of Entry Post Significant Increases in Methamphetamine, Weapons Seized in FY 2020

LAREDO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at eight South Texas ports of entry seized a significant amount of narcotics, unreported currency, weapons and uncovered numerous immigration violations during Fiscal Year 2020, most notably a 160 percent increase in weapons seized and a 107 percent increase in methamphetamine seized. Fiscal Year 2020 began October 1, 2019 and ended Sept. 30, 2020.

“Amid the COVID-19 global pandemic and changes to cross border traffic flows to limit the virus’ spread, our frontline CBP officers nevertheless continued to maintain a robust border security posture at South Texas ports of entry in Fiscal Year 2020, seizing significant amounts of drugs and other contraband, particularly methamphetamine and weapons.  CBP continues to innovate and maintain laser focus on protecting the homeland while maximizing stakeholder partnerships and projects to facilitate lawful trade and travel at Laredo Field Office ports of entry,” said Director, Field Operations Randy J. Howe, Laredo Field Office.

During FY 2020, CBP officers at the eight ports of entry extending from Brownsville to Del Rio that comprise the Laredo Field Office seized 125,307 pounds of narcotics that would have commanded a combined estimated street value of $821 million. Specifically, they seized 82,524 pounds of marijuana; 4,328 pounds of cocaine; 37,477 pounds of methamphetamine, up 107 percent from FY 2019; 944 pounds of heroin, $9.2 million in unreported currency, up 31 percent from FY 2019, 315 weapons, up 160 percent from FY 2019 and 79,887 rounds of ammunition.

CBP officers at Laredo Field Office ports of entry in FY 2020 also determined that more than 20,460 non-U.S. citizens were inadmissible to the U.S. due to violations of immigration law.