DETROIT – The Detroit Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) intercepted approximately 4,400 pounds of cocaine and about 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine during the past fiscal year, highlighting intensified enforcement efforts at the northern border.
Ofc. Nicholas Coyle joined Customs nearly five years ago.
“Our enforcement teams are really good at inspecting commercial vehicles, and that’s where we find a lot of our bulk narcotics,” Coyle said.
Stepped-up inspections at largest northern border crossing
The northern border stretches more than 5,500 miles between the U.S. and Canada, making it the longest international border.
Yet, it’s also called, “America’s forgotten border.”
In October 2024, enforcement increased significantly.
At the Detroit Field Office, the busiest port of entry between the two countries, officers conduct thorough inspections of semi-trucks entering and leaving the U.S. These inspections include checking the cab, engine compartment, cargo and trailers for contraband such as drugs, weapons, and hidden persons.
“We search commodities both coming into the U.S. and going out,” Coyle explained. “Transnational criminal organizations bring contraband in and out, so we disrupt their entire flow.”
K-9 units vital in detecting narcotics, human concealment
K-9 units play a critical role in the detection process.
Jenna, a four-year-old narcotics detection dog, is trained to sniff out drugs and even human concealment.
Ofc. Bryan Boos, a K-9 handler since 2010, described how the dogs can detect a “fear odor” that indicates someone hiding in a vehicle.
“They can tell the difference between someone just sitting in a car and someone hiding in a semi-truck,” Bos said. “It’s amazing what they can do.”
The dogs follow an “odor cone,” which varies in size depending on wind conditions.
Handlers pay close attention to the dogs’ reactions to track scents accurately.
Using intelligence and technology to catch traffickers
CBP officers use law enforcement intelligence from multiple agencies to select trucks for inspection. They also utilize large-scale X-ray machines to scan vehicles when canine alerts or other indicators arise.
“Every person crossing the border must declare currency over $10,000, contraband, alcohol, firearms, or anything illegal,” Coyle said. “We verify paperwork and conduct thorough inspections to ensure nothing suspicious is missed.”
Inspections typically take 10 to 20 minutes but can last longer depending on the commodity. For example, a load of vegetables requiring an X-ray may take 35 to 40 minutes.
Keeping up with evolving drug threats
CBP has adapted to emerging drug threats by training K-9 units to detect fentanyl and other synthetic drugs.
“Our agency has started creating its own fentanyl for training,” Boos said. “All the dogs now are fentanyl trained to keep up with the latest drug trends.”
Disrupting criminal organizations and saving lives
The increased seizures reflect CBP’s ongoing efforts to dismantle transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) operating along the northern border.
“These organizations are still active and trying to get drugs across the border,” Coyle said. “It’s our job to catch them, and we’re good at it.”
We’re certainly disrupting criminal organizations, he said.
“But I look at it this way too, like seizing narcotics is out there saving people’s lives. That’s what we’re doing,” Coyle said. “We’re having an impact on the drug trade and we’re taking those narcotics off the street and we’re impacting [transnational criminal organizations] and we’re saving people’s lives. That’s really what the goal is.”