Border Patrol agents descend from a C-17 plane after loading migrants to be deported back to Guatemala on Jan. 30, 2025 at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. The aircraft is designed to transport 134 passengers, but only carried 80 migrants.
Eagle Pass, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized over $10 million worth of liquid methamphetamine at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry, in what officials are calling a major blow to drug smuggling operations at the southern border.
The dramatic discovery occurred on April 20, when CBP officers referred a 46-year-old woman, a Mexican citizen driving a 2000 Dodge pickup truck, for a secondary inspection at the Eagle Pass International Bridge. Officers detected an enormous hidden stash inside an external fuel tank using a non-intrusive inspection system and trained canine units.
In total, authorities uncovered nearly 1,149 pounds of liquid methamphetamine — a staggering haul with a street value of approximately $10,562,320, according to CBP.
“Our frontline CBP officers maintained strict vigilance, utilized high-tech tools, and took down a significant amount of liquid methamphetamine,” said Eagle Pass Port Director Pete Beattie in a statement. “Seizures like these illustrate perfectly CBP’s ongoing commitment to upholding our border security mission and protecting our communities.”
Homeland Security Investigations immediately seized the vehicle and narcotics before arresting the driver, who now faces a federal criminal investigation.
The size of the bust shocked even seasoned law enforcement officials. Liquid methamphetamine, often more difficult to detect than crystal meth, is increasingly being used by smugglers to evade traditional detection methods. Once it crosses into the U.S., it can be processed into crystal form or sold as-is, making a shipment of this magnitude potentially devastating if it had reached the streets.
CBP emphasized that its success was due to the combination of technology, officer experience, and canine teams—a layered approach it says is critical at busy ports of entry like Eagle Pass.
The seizure comes amid ongoing concerns about the volume of illicit drugs crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. While much public attention has been focused on fentanyl, large-scale methamphetamine trafficking remains a major threat, contributing to addiction, violence, and public health crises across the country.
Officials said that busts like this highlight the need for continued investment in border security technology and staffing.
“This is a huge win,” said one federal officer not authorized to speak publicly. “That’s 10 million dollars’ worth of destruction that won’t make it into American communities.”
The driver remains in federal custody as the investigation continues.
