Full Breakdown
Major Cocaine Seizure at Lewiston Bridge Border Crossing
By Drooid · · How we work
How the Smuggling Attempt Was Detected
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents conducted a routine inspection of a northbound commercial tractor-trailer driven by a 21-year-old Canadian driver. Inspectors noted modifications to the truck’s floor, prompting a secondary examination with a K-9 team. The canine unit alerted agents to concealed packages, leading to the discovery of 174 vacuum-sealed parcels hidden beneath the floorboards. The haul comprised roughly 450 pounds of cocaine, which CBP estimates to be worth about $6 million.
Scope of the Seizure
The cocaine was packaged in vacuum-sealed bundles, each concealed within the truck’s altered flooring. The total weight of the drug cargo was reported as 450 pounds, and the monetary valuation was provided by CBP officials. The seizure adds to a series of recent interdictions involving commercial trucks, underscoring the agency’s focus on both inbound and outbound threats along the United States’ northern border.
Official Statements from CBP Leadership
Sharon Swiatek, acting port director for the Area Port of Buffalo, emphasized the role of CBP officers and canine teams in the operation. She also highlighted the agency’s broader mission to disrupt transborder criminal networks and protect communities on both sides of the border.
Ongoing Investigation
The seized shipment has been transferred to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Buffalo for further review. Federal investigators will examine the origins of the narcotics, the logistics of the smuggling route, and any connections to larger drug-trafficking organizations.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This significant seizure highlights the exceptional vigilance, advanced training and relentless dedication of our CBP officers and canine teams at the Lewiston Bridge border crossing,” — Sharon Swiatek, acting port director for the Area Port of Buffalo
- “While a large focus of our border security mission is on inbound threats, our officers remain equally sharp during outbound operations to dismantle transborder criminal networks, disrupt the flow of dangerous narcotics and protect communities on both sides of the border,” — Sharon Swiatek, acting port director for the Area Port of Buffalo
