CBP Seizes $72M in Meth at Laredo Ports of Entry
On a single Friday in June 2026, CBP officers at two different Texas bridges stopped two trucks — and found a combined $72 million worth of methamphetamine hidden inside. One shipment was labeled as plastic. The other came from Reynosa, Mexico. Both are now the subject of federal criminal investigations.
Two Major Drug Seizures on the Same Day at Different Bridges
On Friday, June 19, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers made two large drug seizures at separate ports of entry in the Laredo, Texas area — on the same day. Together, the two seizures totaled more than $72.3 million worth of methamphetamine.
The first and larger seizure happened at the World Trade Bridge in Laredo. A CBP officer stopped a 2011 Dodge Ram truck carrying cargo listed on its paperwork as "polypropylene" — a type of plastic. Officers used a drug-detection dog and a nonintrusive inspection system (a machine that scans cargo without opening it) to examine the truck. Inside, they found 7,047.73 pounds of suspected methamphetamine. The street value of that drug haul: $63,002,534.
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The second seizure happened the same day at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility. A tractor-trailer traveling from Reynosa, Mexico was sent to secondary inspection — a more detailed check — after scanning equipment showed something unusual inside the trailer. Officers physically searched the trailer and found 193 packages of suspected methamphetamine weighing 1,042.78 pounds (473 kg), with a street value of $9,321,884. In both cases, CBP seized the drugs and the vehicles. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) — the investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security — opened criminal investigations into both seizures.
What This Means for People Crossing the Border
CBP's Laredo Field Office Director Donald R. Kusser said these seizures show the serious drug threat officers face every day and their commitment to stopping illegal activity at the border. Both seizures used nonintrusive inspection technology — meaning officers can detect hidden cargo without physically opening every shipment. This technology is used at cargo facilities across the southwest border.
What to do
- If you cross the border regularly for work or travel, always make sure your cargo or vehicle paperwork accurately describes what you are carrying. Mislabeled shipments can trigger secondary inspection.
- If you are stopped for secondary inspection at a port of entry, you have the right to remain calm and ask what is happening. You are not under arrest simply because you are sent to secondary.
- If you are a commercial truck driver or cargo company owner and your vehicle is seized during an investigation, lawyers recommend contacting an attorney immediately — even if you were not aware of any illegal cargo.
- If you are an immigrant worried about how increased border enforcement affects your status or travel, speak with an immigration lawyer before crossing any international border.
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If your vehicle is seized at the border during a drug investigation, you may face both criminal charges and civil asset forfeiture — meaning the government can try to keep your vehicle even if you are never convicted. You have the right to contest a forfeiture, but deadlines to file a claim are strict and can be as short as 30 to 35 days from the seizure notice. Anyone whose property is seized in connection with a border enforcement action should consult an immigration or criminal defense attorney immediately.