U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shared updates on its enforcement activities and revenue collection efforts in a series of posts on December 18, 2025.
In one post, CBP reported a significant drug seizure at the Texas border: "This isn't the broccoli your parents used to force you to eat. @DFOLaredo officers at the Hidalgo, Texas, Port of Entry seized over 346lbs of cocaine concealed within a commercial shipment of fresh broccoli. A Mexican national attempting to enter the U.S. was referred for a https://t.co/HGSFcX0ZWi" (December 18, 2025). The statement referenced an incident involving the interception of narcotics hidden in produce by officers at the Laredo Field Office.
Later that day, CBP highlighted recent achievements in duty collection as a result of policy changes implemented earlier in 2025: "U.S. Customs and Border Protection collected over $1 billion in duties on over 246 million low-cost shipments since the administration began phasing out the de minimis loophole in May 2025, recovering a record amount of revenue that had previously gone uncollected." (December 18, 2025). This refers to new measures targeting small-value imports that were previously exempt from duties under the de minimis rule—a provision that allows goods below a certain value threshold to enter without tariffs. The administration’s decision to reduce or eliminate this exemption has resulted in increased customs revenue.
A third post published by CBP on December 18 contained only a link: "https://t.co/AyWnhJTm4I" (December 18, 2025).
CBP is responsible for securing U.S. borders and facilitating lawful international trade and travel. In recent years, it has intensified efforts against narcotics smuggling through ports of entry along the southern border and has implemented new policies affecting international e-commerce shipments. The move to phase out the de minimis loophole reflects ongoing concerns about lost tariff revenue from rising volumes of small parcels entering the country through online commerce platforms.
