CBP Seizes $984K in Cocaine at Texas Ports: Immigration News Today

Two Drug Seizures in Two Days at Texas Border Crossings

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Laredo Field Office made two large cocaine seizures at Texas ports of entry on back-to-back days in June 2026. Together, the two seizures totaled nearly $984,000 in street value. Both drivers — Mexican citizens — were arrested by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents and are now under federal investigation.

The first seizure happened on June 12, 2026, at the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge in Laredo. A CBP officer stopped a 56-year-old man driving a 2020 Nissan Frontier pickup and sent him to secondary inspection. Using a drug-detection dog and a nonintrusive imaging system (a scanner that sees inside vehicles without opening them), officers found 20 packages of suspected cocaine hidden in the truck. The total weight was 50.75 pounds, with a street value of $677,617. CBP seized both the drugs and the vehicle.

The second seizure happened on June 13, 2026, at Camino Real Bridge in Eagle Pass. A CBP officer referred a 53-year-old man driving a 2015 Toyota Camry for secondary inspection. An imaging scan revealed 13 packages of suspected cocaine weighing 22.97 pounds, valued at $306,723 on the street. Again, CBP seized the drugs and the vehicle. Laredo Field Office Director Donald R. Kusser said the seizures show how officers use both experience and technology to stop drug loads at the border.

What This Means for Travelers and Immigrants Crossing the Border

These cases are a reminder that CBP officers use advanced scanning technology and trained dogs at every port of entry. Anyone crossing the border — including lawful permanent residents (green card holders), visa holders, and people with work permits (called an Employment Authorization Document, or EAD) — can be referred to secondary inspection at any time. A secondary inspection is not an arrest, but officers will examine your vehicle and belongings more closely. If contraband is found, you can face federal criminal charges and immigration consequences, including removal proceedings (the formal process to deport someone from the US).

What to Do

• Know your rights at a port of entry. CBP officers have broad authority to inspect travelers and vehicles at the border. You are required to answer questions about your citizenship and the purpose of your trip. You do not have to answer questions unrelated to your immigration status without a lawyer present.
• Never transport items for strangers. If someone asks you to carry a package across the border, refuse. You can be charged even if you say you did not know what was inside.
• If you are arrested at the border, ask for a lawyer immediately. Do not sign any documents before speaking with an immigration attorney. An arrest can trigger removal proceedings even if you have a valid visa or green card.
• If you have a pending immigration case — such as a green card application, DACA renewal, or asylum application — a drug-related arrest can seriously harm your case. Contact an immigration lawyer right away.