Drugs heading north and cash going south were among significant seizures recently in the El Paso-Juárez Borderland, including a stop of a semitruck transporting a ton of marijuana.
Mexican troops intercepted the large drug load in a trailer at the Samalayuca military checkpoint on a highway south of Juárez on Jan. 28, the ministry of national defense said in a news statement.
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The military found a ton of marijuana, 30 kilos (66 pounds) crystal methamphetamine, 10 kilos (22 pounds) of opium gum and a firearm in a trailer, Chihuahua State Public Safety Secretary Gilberto Loya said at his weekly news conference on Monday, Feb. 2.
The truck driver, Javier L.J., 54, was arrested, said Loya, who credited the bust to Mexico’s National Guard and army with collaboration from state police.
Mexican National Guard troops and soldiers stopped a trailer carrying a ton of marijuana, 30 kilos (66 pounds) of crystal methamphetamine and 10 kilos (22 pounds) of opium gum at the Samalayuca highway military checkpoint south of Juárez on Jan. 28, 2026.
Cocaine, cash seized at El Paso border
U.S. Customs and Border Protection made several cocaine and cash seizures during recent inspections of vehicles arriving and heading to Mexico at the Ysleta Port of Entry at the Zaragoza bridge in El Paso.
A CBP news release said the seizures included:
∎ Jan. 24: A drug-sniffing dog helped CBP officers find more than 25 kilos (56 pounds) of cocaine hidden in a white Honda Civic driven by a Mexican citizen heading to the United States.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers found several cocaine packages labeled “Pari” hidden in a car at the Ysleta Port of Entry at the Zaragoza bridge in El Paso, Texas, in January 2026.
∎ Jan. 22: A man, who is a U.S. citizen, arriving from Mexico was arrested when more than 15 kilos (35 pounds) of cocaine were found in a false compartment in the trunk of a blue Chevrolet Sonic.
∎ Jan. 22: CBP officers with the Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team and Mobile Enforcement Team were inspecting southbound traffic when they stopped a Dodge Ram heading to Mexico. CBP seized $40,320 in undeclared money found inside the jacket of the pickup’s driver, a man who is a U.S. citizen.
∎ Jan. 21: During checks of Mexico-bound traffic, a dog trained to smell out cash and firearms alerted CBP officers to a white Nissan Pathfinder driven by a man who is a U.S. citizen. CBP seized $38,371 in currency that was allegedly improperly declared
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Travelers can carry any amount of cash across the border. But if the amount is more than $10,000, it must be reported to CBP. The unreported money can be seized and the person arrested for failing to declare the currency.
Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com and @BorundaDaniel on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Border drug busts: Marijuana, cocaine seized in El Paso, Juárez