U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the seizure of close to 72 grams of heroin mixed with fentanyl and 96 grams of THC vape oil at the Galveston Cruise Port. The items were found following a cruise to Mexico. A U.S. citizen was arrested and subsequently referred to local authorities for prosecution.
On April 20th, CBP officers conducted a baggage exam in Galveston and discovered several vape pens with THC oil and prescription pill bottles, two of which contained a powdery substance. Tests confirmed the presence of fentanyl and heroin.
John Landry, Acting CBP Area Port Director, highlighted the dangers of fentanyl. “Fentanyl is a weapon of mass destruction in this country, and CBP works every day to keep Americans safe from dangerous and deadly drugs,” Landry stated. “This is a significant priority for CBP and our law enforcement partners. Thanks to the vigilance of our brave and dedicated CBP officers, we continue to intercept these deadly substances at our ports of entry before they can do damage in our local communities.”
Fentanyl is acknowledged as one of the deadliest drugs in the United States. Used in medical settings to treat severe pain, illicit fentanyl is produced in foreign labs and smuggled primarily from Mexico. It is often mixed with other drugs to enhance potency, with counterfeit pills sometimes containing lethal doses.
According to the CDC, synthetic opioids like fentanyl are a primary cause of overdose deaths in the U.S. Determining a pill's authenticity or its fentanyl content without laboratory testing remains challenging and dangerous.
CBP describes itself as America's frontline, composed of over 65,000 personnel who protect the nation through innovation, intelligence, collaboration, and trust, ensuring safe travel and trade.
