1 port of entry, 1 million fentanyl pills seized in one month
Share and Follow

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – Border officers in Nogales, Arizona, seized nearly a million fentanyl pills during various events over a 30-day period ending Sept. 24.

Smugglers were bringing the potentially deadly blue pills from Mexico into the United States stashed in vehicles, hidden in luggage or strapped to their bodies.

More than half a million pills were seized on the week ending Sept. 2, according to federal court filings and social media postings by Nogales U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Director Laura E. Hermosillo.

The largest known single seizure took place on Sept. 19, when CBP officers located inside a vehicle dozens of small bundles containing 30 pounds of methamphetamine and 177,800 fentanyl pills.

On Sept. 11, a pedestrian hauling what he said was luggage arrived at a Nogales border crossing; a CBP officer sent him to a secondary inspection area and found footlong plastic bags with 164,800 fentanyl pills.

On the same pedestrian lanes, CBP officers decided to investigate a “traveler” with 21,517 blue pills strapped to the torso on Sept. 6. A day after, another individual had tried to walk across the same border crossing with 22,875 pills strapped to the length of their thighs.

Fentanyl seizures – just like migrant encounters – fell drastically during fiscal year 2025, according to data from CBP.

But the Tucson Field Office, which includes Nogales, has seen fentanyl seizure events steadily rising since May.

On July 7, Homeland Security Investigations announced it had partnered with Mexico to take down five members of a Nogales, Sonora-based criminal organization trafficking fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and meth. Seven alleged U.S.-based collaborators of the same organization were previously indicted in federal court.

Nogales is part of CBP’s Operation Plaza Spike, which targets Mexican cartels shipping fentanyl to the United States.

CBP identified the operation’s principal local target as Sergio Valenzuela Valenzuela, aka “Don Gio.” Federal officials last year said he is the plaza, or regional boss, and has been under federal indictment since 2018.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Woman who died after being left behind by a cruise ship is pictured

Tragic Loss: Woman’s Image Released After Being Left Behind by Cruise Ship and Found Dead

Authorities have identified the Australian grandmother who tragically lost her life on…
Trump directs Pentagon to start testing nuclear weapons

Trump Orders Pentagon to Initiate Nuclear Weapons Testing: A Bold Shift in U.S. Defense Strategy

On Wednesday, former President Donald Trump announced that he has directed the…
Navy Pier lawsuit: Kira Bond of New York seriously injured by s'mores fire sues Offshore Rooftop restaurant in Chicago

New York Woman Sues Chicago Rooftop Restaurant After S’mores Fire Incident at Navy Pier

A New York resident, who was injured in a fire at Chicago’s…
Microsoft outage fix in progress, but could take hours to fully restore

Microsoft Working Diligently to Resolve Ongoing Outage: Full Restoration May Take Several Hours

Just a little over a week following a significant disruption at Amazon…
Axed CNN anchor Don Lemon BLASTED for saying Megyn Kelly looks 'trans'

Former CNN Anchor Don Lemon Criticized for Remarks About Megyn Kelly’s Appearance

Don Lemon is under intense scrutiny following controversial remarks about Megyn Kelly’s…
Dad was on a show about aliens, mom worked with Jim Carrey

From UFOs to Hollywood: Unraveling the Fascinating Lives of a Family with Ties to Aliens and Jim Carrey

A well-known celebrity offspring stepped into the limelight for a rare red…
Massive crowds line up in the rain at Ole Miss for Turning Point USA event with VP Vance, Erika Kirk

Record-Breaking Turnout: Thousands Brave Rain for Turning Point USA at Ole Miss with VP Vance & Erika Kirk

On a rainy Wednesday afternoon, the campus of the University of Mississippi…
gif of surveillance footage where man is walking through street

13-Year-Old Girl Evades Daylight Abduction by Defending Herself Against Masked Assailant

A close call unfolded for a 13-year-old girl in Texas on Monday…