Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized an estimated $10 million worth of drugs Monday after inspecting a commercial tractor-trailer carrying cabbage at the Pharr Port of Entry, a border crossing near the southern tip of Texas.
According to CBP, officers used a trained canine and nonintrusive imaging technology, which helped identify a concealed shipment inside the trailer.
A subsequent hands-on inspection revealed 477 packages filled with 1,173 pounds of cocaine, carrying an estimated street value of $10,787,500.
“This interception is a powerful reminder that our CBP officers are on duty 24/7, employing every resource to detect and deter those who attempt to exploit our borders,” Carlos Rodriguez, Port Director for the Hidalgo Port of Entry, said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
CBP took possession of both the narcotics and the commercial vehicle.
The seizure underscores the ongoing drug-smuggling challenges confronting the United States, even as the federal government pours historic funding into border security and CBP maintains record staffing levels.
Congressional Republicans have directed major new funding to the agency through President Trump’s signature Big Beautiful Bill, along with recent legislation aimed at financing the Department of Homeland Security through the remainder of the administration.
Together, the measures allocated $64 billion and $26 billion to CBP, respectively, with a significant share of the latter package designated for personnel and staffing needs.
Earlier this year, CBP announced it had broken staffing records, reaching 21,471 officers — the most in the agency’s 102-year history.
At the same time, since the end of 2024, border crossings have fallen dramatically, going from over 144,000 encounters in December 2024 to just 13,500 in May — a 90% reduction.
Despite the heavy investments, CBP and other federal agencies remain engaged in intercepting more organized smuggling operations that threaten to bring drugs, weapons and people illegally into the country.
In April, for example, CBP announced it had prevented a car carrying a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, 16 AK rifles, 24 rifle magazines, 16 rifle stocks, 20 pistol grips, and other weapon parts from crossing the border.
“The threat of illicit narcotics is constant, but so is our vigilance,” Rodriguez said.
