CBP K-9 Seizes 450 Pounds of Cocaine Worth $6 Million at U.S.-Canada Border

Q: How did officers spot a hidden floor compartment carrying 450 pounds of cocaine inside a routine truck inspection at the U.S.-Canada border?

Officers found the cocaine because a routine physical inspection of the truck revealed non-factory modifications in the floor that suggested a hidden compartment. CBP has not detailed the exact visual or mechanical cues, but the agency said officers spotted signs of an altered floor during the inspection of the northbound commercial tractor-trailer at the Lewiston Bridge crossing. That suspicion triggered a secondary step: a CBP K-9 unit was brought in to screen the vehicle. After the dog alerted, officers searched the area more closely and uncovered 174 vacuum-sealed packages of cocaine hidden inside the floor compartment. The total haul weighed about 450 pounds and was valued by CBP at roughly $6 million. The seizure reflects the layered way border inspections typically work at commercial crossings. Officers often begin with routine document and vehicle checks, then look for structural irregularities such as fresh welding, unusual flooring, inconsistent paneling, or other alterations that do not match factory construction. When those signs appear, canine teams are commonly used to confirm whether narcotics may be present. CBP credited the discovery to officer vigilance and training, and the case was referred to Homeland Security Investigations in Buffalo for further investigation.

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 29

450 pounds of cocaine packed in 174 vacuum-sealed bundles were seized from a northbound commercial tractor-trailer at the Lewiston Bridge crossing last Tuesday, CBP said.
A routine inspection found modifications to the trailer floor, prompting a K-9 search that uncovered the hidden shipment; the case was referred to Homeland Security Investigations in Buffalo.
Sharon Swiatek, acting port director for Buffalo, said the bust showed officers remained focused on outbound threats as well as inbound ones, targeting transborder criminal networks on both sides of the border.
The seizure underscores that drug smuggling persists even as border encounters have fallen sharply since late 2024, with southern crossings down more than 94% and northern encounters down 64%.