The 10 Largest Trucking Drug Busts of 2023

August 23, 2023

While not reaching records set in 2020-2021 we're seeing some significant drug smuggling attempts at our borders this year. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been busy thwarting these shipments and keeping millions of dollars worth of drugs off of American streets.

We've got a countdown of 2023's most audacious drug trafficking attempts.

10.  Peace Bridge, Buffalo, New York

  • Drug Type: Marijuana and Ketamine

  • Street Value: $2,000,000

  • Weight: 2,092 pounds of marijuana and 112 pounds of ketamine

  • Date Seized: July 27, 2023

Drugs were concealed in a tractor-trailer loaded with frozen waffles.

9. Calexico East Cargo Facility, Calexico, California

  • Drug Type: Cocaine

  • Street Value: $1,500,000

  • Weight: 120 pounds

  • Date Seized: March 15, 2023

CBP officers encountered a truck and trailer with a shipment declared as watermelons. During an intensive examination, a CBP canine alerted officers to the shipment. They discovered 22 wrapped packages of cocaine hidden within plastic pallets.

8. Cargo Facility, Tecate, California

  • Drug Type: Cocaine

  • Street Value: $4,100,000

  • Weight: 256 pounds

  • Date Seized: January 11, 2023

CBP officers found cocaine concealed within decorative rocks, hidden in a plaster-like material designed to appear like stones.

7. Pharr International Bridge cargo facility, Pharr, Texas

  • Drug Type: Methamphetamine

  • Street Value: $4,360,000

  • Weight: 488 pounds (221.5 kg)

  • Date Seized: August 4, 2023

Methamphetamine was discovered concealed within a shipment of mixed vegetables.

6.  Calexico Port of Entry, Calexico, California 

  • Drug Type: Methamphetamine

  • Street Value: $5,475,600

  • Weight: 4,563 pounds

  • Date Seized: January 31, 2023

Methamphetamine was found concealed within a shipment of radishes.

5. Pharr International Bridge, Pharr, Texas

  • Drug Type: Methamphetamine

  • Weight: 3,373 pounds

  • Estimated Value: $7, 400,000

  • Date: March 28, 2023

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility discovered the alleged methamphetamine concealed within a shipment of charcoal.

4. World Trade Bridge, Laredo, Texas

  • Drug Type: Marijuana

  • Weight: 3,373 pounds

  • Estimated Value: $7, 546,946

  • Date: January 14, 2023

Marijuana was found within a shipment of cotton candy following a canine and non-intrusive inspection.

3. Colombia-Solidarity Bridge, Laredo, Texas

  • Drug Type: Methamphetamine

  • Weight: 2,136 pounds

  • Estimated Value: $19,093, 110

  • Date: August 7, 2023

A shipment of plaster was found to contain methamphetamine. The discovery was made after a canine and non-intrusive inspection revealed inconsistencies.

2. Otay Mesa port of entry, Otay Mesa, California

  • Drug Type: Fentanyl pills

  • Street Value: $21,120,000

  • Weight: 776.03 pounds (pills)

  • Date Seized: April 17, 2023

CBP officers found 3,520,000 fentanyl pills hidden within a shipment of green beans. The narcotics were detected during an intensive agriculture inspection, and a detector dog alerted officers to the presence of drugs.

1. Otay Mesa Cargo Facility, Otay Mesa, California

  • Drug Type: Methamphetamine

  • Street Value: $38,070,910

  • Weight: 5,788.41 pounds

  • Date Seized: May 27, 2023

Drugs were concealed within a shipment of kale. CBP officers discovered 268 packages hidden within the shipment of kale after observing irregularities during a non-intrusive inspection.

Some DIShonorable Mentions:

Otay Mesa port of entry, Otay Mesa, California

  • Drug Type: Fentanyl pills

  • Weight: 776.03 pounds

  • Estimated Street Value: $21,120,000

The fentanyl pills were concealed within a shipment of green beans. A total of 308 packages were extracted after CBP officers noticed irregularities during a non-intrusive inspection and subsequent alert by a detector dog.

I-55 near Springfield, Illinois

  • Drug Type: Cocaine

  • Weight: 227 pounds

  • Estimated Street Value: Not provided

  • During a routine inspection, an ISP trooper stopped a tractor trailer. The two men inside became suspicious, leading the trooper to search the vehicle. The search revealed about 227 pounds of suspected cocaine.

Blue Water Bridge, Port Huron, Michigan

  • Drug Type: Cocaine

  • Weight: 200 pounds

  • Estimated Street Value: Not provided

  • CBP officers were inspecting outbound commercial cargo when they discovered the cocaine. The narcotics were found co-mingled among a shipment of goods.

Source: CBP

Reply

or to participate.