SOUTH TEXAS – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and agriculture specialists at eight South Texas ports of entry seized a significant amount of narcotics, currency, false documents, and uncovered numerous immigration and agricultural violations during Fiscal Year 2016. Fiscal Year 2016 began October 1, 2015 and ended Sept. 30, 2016.
“Our frontline CBP officers carried out a robust amount of enforcement activity in FY 2016 and we have seen a significant increase in the amount of methamphetamine seized. Our officers continue to advance the CBP mission by upholding the agency’s commitment to border security while facilitating the processing of lawful trade and travel at South Texas ports of entry and treating travelers with dignity, professionalism and respect,” said Director, Field Operations David P. Higgerson, Laredo Field Office.
During FY 2016, CBP officers at eight ports of entry extending from Brownsville to Del Rio that comprise the Laredo Field Office seized 157,947 pounds of narcotics that carried a combined estimated street value of $188 million. Specifically, they seized 144,483 pounds of marijuana; 5,877 pounds of cocaine; 6,728 pounds of methamphetamine, up 35 percent from FY 2015; 859 pounds of heroin, $3.8 million in undeclared currency, 70 firearms and 25,278 rounds of ammunition.
South Texas CBP officers in FY 2016 determined that a total of 68,027 non-U.S. citizens were inadmissible to the U.S. due to violations of immigration law, a 38 percent increase over FY 2015.