US Customs and Border Protection

Who watches the border in Mexico?

Transporting goods in and out of Mexico can be a challenge for both experienced and new shippers or logistics professionals. 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is tasked with assessing all commercial or pedestrian traffic entering the United States by airplane, overland vehicle, ship or on foot.

In Mexico, about 10 different organizations are tasked with implementing customs clearance, issuing permits and certificates of imports/exports and protecting the border, including the Mexican...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/who-watches-the-border-in-mexico

CBP invests $46M to upgrade rail cargo inspection technology

A photograph of a train by a CBP outpost.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) plans to spend $46 million to upgrade technology to improve rail cargo inspections at 12 points of entry by the Canadian and Mexican borders.

CBP says it will replace aging rail scanner systems with new high-energy rail scanners that can generate high-quality images more quickly and securely. The scanners use linear accelerators to generate X-rays from electricity rather than radioactive isotopes, the agency said.

Installation and testing of the new...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/cbp-invests-46m-to-upgrade-rail-cargo-inspection-technology

Customs agents seize meth, chicken lollipops at Texas ports

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recently seized methamphetamine and illegal pet treats in separate enforcement actions in Texas.

On April 14, agents working at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport intercepted a shipment of 93 prohibited chicken lollipop pet treats, authorities said. 

The shipment was manifested as men’s sweaters and was destined for Highlands, Texas, near Houston.

“Consumers are unaware that some international goods and products are prohibited or restricted...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/customs-agents-seize-meth-chicken-lollipops

Deadly crash involving truck, SUV prompts human smuggling investigation

Authorities are investigating whether human smuggling was involved in a crash Tuesday that killed more than a dozen people in Southern California.

The crash between a Ford Expedition carrying 25 people and a double tractor-trailer occurred a few miles northwest of Holtville, California, around 6:15 a.m., according to officials.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a statement that its Homeland Security Investigations unit has initiated a human smuggling investigation into the crash.

The...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/deadly-crash-involving-truck-suv-prompts-human-smuggling-investigation

CBP reveals how cocaine corn flakes were sniffed out in Cincinnati

A graphic illustration of a box of of cocaine cereal to illustrate an article about the interception of a shipment of cocaine cornflakes.

On Feb. 13, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in Cincinnati were checking a shipment of corn flakes from Peru when suddenly Bico, a narcotics K-9, alerted agents that something was amiss.

The corn flakes were frosted with something besides sugar – they were coated with cocaine. In all, agents would find about 44 pounds of cocaine-coated corn flakes, worth about $2.8 million. 

The cocaine corn flakes were en route to a private residence in Hong Kong when they were seized at an express...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/cbp-reveals-how-cocaine-corn-flakes-were-sniffed-out-in-cincinnati

CBP seizes rare ‘green cocaine’ in Cincinnati

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Cincinnati prevented hundreds of pounds of green cocaine from being shipped across North America and Australia, authorities said Monday.

Fifty shipments of green powder cocaine were seized over four months, from Oct. 1, 2020, through last Sunday. The total amount of cocaine in all 50 shipments was 433 pounds.

Originating from Peru and Colombia, the shipments were headed to individuals across the U.S., Canada and Australia. Some of the shipments...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/cbp-seizes-rare-green-cocaine-in-cincinnati

CBP agents find drugs in shipments of candles, toilet paper, cabinets

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recently seized cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine worth more than $2.8 million in separate incidents in Texas, authorities said.

The largest seizure occurred at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge in Pharr, Texas, on Friday. Agents detected packages containing alleged fentanyl and cocaine worth $890,000 in a commercial tractor-trailer arriving from Mexico with fresh produce.

 Agents working at the World Trade Bridge on Jan. 25 in Laredo,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/agents-find-drugs-in-shipments-of-candles-toilet-paper-cabinets

Five biggest Mexico border drug busts of 2020

Almost $400 million in narcotics were seized from trucks attempting to cross from Mexico into the U.S. during 2020.

Everything from shipments of tomatoes, avocados, jalapenos and broccoli, to loads of cobblestones, lighting fixtures and electronic equipment were used in attempted smuggling cases at the border.

Here are five of the biggest U.S.-Mexico border drug busts this year.

1. Mexican police find $62M in drugs in abandoned truck near border

Mexican authorities found 25,000 pounds worth of...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/five-biggest-border-drug-busts-of-2020

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