U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has shared updates on recent operations and achievements via its official Twitter account. The posts detail efforts to secure the U.S.-Mexico border, recognize canine contributions, and announce the apprehension of an international fugitive.
On February 18, 2026, CBP announced the closure of a significant border gap in California: " Securing Our Border: The 'Puebla Tree' Gap is CLOSED! For years, the Otay Mountain Wilderness in San Diego, California, was plagued by dangerous cartel enforcers and bandits operating near the 'Puebla Tree' border gap. As recently as 2024, these criminal organizations".
Later that day, CBP posted a message recognizing a canine member named Coba: "Coba has earned a !" (February 18, 2026).
On February 19, 2026, CBP reported on an operation involving multiple agencies: "Border Patrol Agents, in collaboration with @ICEgov, apprehended an @INTERPOL_HQ fugitive in Houston, TX. The subject had been identified by the @USBPChiefELC Criminal Alien Fugitive Targeting Unit as having an active warrant in El Salvador for fraud."
The Otay Mountain Wilderness area has long been known as a corridor for illicit activities due to its rugged terrain and proximity to the border. In recent years—including as late as 2024—cartel groups have used gaps like the "Puebla Tree" location for smuggling and other criminal operations. Efforts to close such gaps are part of broader initiatives aimed at enhancing security along vulnerable stretches of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Collaboration between agencies such as CBP, ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and INTERPOL is central to targeting fugitives who cross international boundaries. Operations like the one conducted in Houston demonstrate ongoing efforts to address transnational crime through information sharing and coordinated enforcement actions.
