Wine Country Times

In July 2023, the San Diego CBP Field Office reported a record-breaking seizure of narcotics, with Fentanyl interceptions surpassing 2022's total by 10,000 pounds, highlighting a worrying surge in drug smuggling attempts.

Sidney Aki, the head of Field Operations in San Diego for CBP, profusely praised the undying efforts of the officers. “The remarkable vigilance and forward-leaning approach of our frontline officers have resulted in these significant interdictions," Aki said. "Their unwavering commitment is a bulwark against the infiltration of these perilous drugs into our communities.”

On August 18, a monthly report from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shed light on the monumental amount of narcotics seized at the San Diego Field Office in July. This office, responsible for overseeing the main entry points from Mexico into California, reported an eye-opening interdiction of narcotics valued at $22 million in just one month.

According to the press release, the interceptions took place across various strategic locations: San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, San Diego's dominant air and seaport, the Cross Border Xpress center, as well as Calexico's East and West terminals, Tecate, and Andrade. The details were staggering: 33 pounds of marijuana, 40 pounds of heroin, a significant 729 pounds of cocaine, 765 pounds of fentanyl, and a mammoth haul of 3,888 pounds of methamphetamine.

These figures from the CBP underscore the persistence of narcotics smuggling, having identified 197 separate incidents in July alone. Every individual implicated was captured and subsequently transferred to Homeland Security Investigations. This body is now entrusted with delving further, suggesting the potential unraveling of broader smuggling networks. Meanwhile, the confiscated drugs and associated vehicles remain securely under the purview of the CBP.

One significant insight drawn from the year-to-date data is particularly alarming. Fentanyl seizures for 2023 have already eclipsed the previous year's total by an astonishing 10,000 pounds. While 2022 saw seizures totaling 7,800 pounds in San Diego, this figure has surged to 10,800 thousand pounds by July 2023.