Heroin mixed with fentanyl seized from cruise passenger returning from Mexico sailing
- CBP seized fentanyl and heroin from a passenger arriving at the Port of Galveston.
- The passenger, a U.S. citizen returning from a cruise to Mexico, was arrested.
- Drug seizures at the southwest border increased overall in fiscal year 2024, but fentanyl seizures decreased.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized close to 72 grams of heroin mixed with fentanyl from a cruise passenger arriving in Galveston, Texas.
The drugs were found in prescription pill bottles during a baggage search on April 20 as the traveler returned from a Mexico sailing, according to an April 22 news release. The agency also seized 96 grams of THC vape oil.
The passenger, a U.S. citizen, was arrested and turned over to local authorities. The Port of Galveston Police Department identified the man as a resident of Henderson, Texas.
The 63-year-old was charged with possession of a controlled substance, a second-degree felony, police told Paste BN in an emailed statement. An attorney listed for the traveler declined to comment.
CBP and the port police did not specify which cruise line he was sailing with.
“Fentanyl is a weapon of mass destruction in this country and CBP works every day to keep Americans safe from dangerous and deadly drugs,” Acting CBP Area Port Director John Landry said in the release. “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.”
One kilogram of fentanyl – a synthetic opioid – can result in up to 500,000 deaths, the agency said. Those kinds of drugs are a leading cause of overdose deaths in the U.S.
Drug seizures at the southwest border rose to about 275,000 pounds in fiscal year 2024, up from roughly 241,000 the year before, according to CBP statistics. However, fentanyl seizures dropped to about 21,000 pounds from nearly 27,000. Close to 6,800 pounds have been seized to date in the region in fiscal year 2025.
This story was updated to add new information.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for Paste BN based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.