U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered about 450 pounds of vacuum-sealed cocaine hidden in the floor of an empty commercial trailer at the Lewiston–Queenston Bridge on Sept. 22, 2026; the case was referred to Homeland Security Investigations in Buffalo.
CBP officers at the Lewiston Bridge found 174 vacuum-sealed packages of cocaine inside the trailer floor during an outbound inspection on Sept. 22, 2026.
Detection relied on officer observation of trailer modifications, a canine alert, nonintrusive imaging, and a physical search.
CBP highlighted that outbound operations remain an active part of border security efforts to disrupt transborder criminal networks.
CBP combined routine inspection techniques with specialized tools and teams: officer training to spot vehicle alterations, canine detection, nonintrusive imaging, and manual inspection. The reported sequence demonstrates layered detection: visual inspection led to canine deployment, imaging narrowed areas of interest, and a physical search produced the contraband.
Agency statements and public information
Sharon Swiatek, acting port director for the Area Port of Buffalo, was quoted praising the vigilance and training of CBP officers and canine teams at Lewiston Bridge. CBP Buffalo also posted a public message about the seizure on social media that referenced the discovery and the quantity of drugs.
CBP referred the seizure to HSI Buffalo. The public account does not include arrest details, charges, or identities beyond noting the driver was a 21-year-old Canadian man who approached the crossing. HSI will carry out the criminal investigation and any coordination with Canadian authorities if cross-border ties arise.
What this means for border and commercial vehicle operations
This seizure illustrates that outbound inspections remain an enforcement focus alongside inbound traffic. For commercial carriers and drivers, the case highlights how vehicle modifications can trigger inspections and how layered detection methods can reveal concealed contraband. The report does not suggest wider operational changes, but it does show the kinds of indicators and technologies used at major land border crossings.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recently seized approximately 450 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of approximately $6 million during an inspection on the Lewiston–Queenston Bridge between Lewiston, N.Y. and Queenston, Ontario. CBP officers working in … Read More » The post CBP seizes
A commercial vehicle driver and passenger were arrested after hundreds of pounds of drugs were seized by law enforcement in Webb County, Texas. At 7 a.m. on September 22, 2026, officers with the Texas Department of Public Safety (TXDPS) responded to a request for assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Arkansas Highway Police found 254 kilograms of cocaine, methamphetamine and other contraband during two commercial vehicle stops along I-40. The post Arkansas I-40 truck inspections uncover $5.1M in cocaine plus meth and stolen UTV appeared first on FreightWaves .
NYPD seizes enormous cocaine stash worth more than $10M
The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) intercepted a record-breaking amount of drugs and halted a major cargo theft attempt during two separate actions in Dawson County. On September 14, NSP released information about “two high-profile criminal interdiction cases” involving semi trucks in Dawson County this month. $50 Million
A truck driver was arrested by Indiana State Police (ISP) after a roadside inspection uncovered hundreds of pounds of cocaine. On September 6, 2026, ISP’s Criminal Interdiction Unit stopped a commercial vehicle on eastbound I-70 in Putnam County for an inspection. Troopers made contact with truck driver Harpreet Singh,
Loading more related stories...
Open the app view to save this story, compare related coverage, and continue from the same source.