San Diego CBP Seizes Over $29 Million Worth of Drugs in April as Smuggling Tactics Evolve

CBP officers in San Diego closed out April with a spike in drug seizures, intercepting more than 7,570 pounds of narcotics in 106 separate incidents, according to figures released by the agency this week.

Most of the haul came in the form of meth — 4,413 pounds — followed by 2,748 pounds of cocaine, 404 pounds of fentanyl, and five pounds of heroin. Officials estimate the total street value at over $29 million.

Smugglers tucked the drugs into spare tires, rooftop compartments, car batteries, engine bays, and other hidden areas, among other methods. CBP says traffickers are shifting them, but officers claim to remain "one step ahead."

All seizures were made by officers assigned to the San Diego Field Office during routine inspections and targeted enforcement efforts. The agency credited teamwork and inter-agency coordination as key to the month's results.

The uptick comes as cocaine production surges globally. A recent United Nations report found output in South America jumped 53% in a single year — from 2022 to 2023 — reaching a record 2,664 metric tons. That increase is being felt at the U.S.-Mexico border, where cocaine seizures are climbing even as fentanyl-related incidents appear to be tapering off.

Authorities say meth and cocaine remain central to cartel operations, despite the spotlight on fentanyl in recent years. Major organizations like Colombia's Clan del Golfo and ELN, as well as Mexico's Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels, remain deeply involved in the production and trafficking of both.