Staff Reports
Federal agents in Laredo held a press conference this week to announce the early results of Operation Southern Surge. The multiagency effort — led by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, the DEA and the U.S. Attorney’s Office — produced big seizures, dozens of arrests, and a reminder that cartels still treat our ports of entry like vending machines.
Operation Southern Surge: the headline numbers
Officials said the operation has yielded more than 1,600 pounds of narcotics, 15 firearms, over 3,000 rounds of ammunition, and more than $360,000 in seized cash. The surge also produced 89 arrests. Jennifer De La O, Director of Field Operations for CBP’s Laredo Field Office, said the effort uses tactical intelligence and coordinated enforcement to dismantle trafficking networks. Charles Kerby, Acting Deputy Special Agent in Charge for HSI Laredo, stressed that seizures are the start — investigators must follow the evidence to get to the people behind the smuggling.
How they found it — leeks, dogs and scanners
The largest single seizure came at the Hidalgo Port of Entry, where a canine alerted officers to a commercial shipment of leeks. Inside, agents found 909 cylindrical packages that tested positive for methamphetamine — roughly 1,082 pounds with a street value near $1 million. At the Juarez–Lincoln Bridge, non-intrusive inspection technology spotted an anomaly in a vehicle and led to the discovery of about 49.3 pounds of cocaine. K‑9 teams, extra inspections and targeted screening did the heavy lifting.
What this shows about border security
These results prove two things. First, when federal law enforcement gets the manpower, tools and focus, they can break up real criminal shipments. Second, cartels keep trying new tricks to move poison and guns into our communities. The Homeland Security Task Force model — combining CBP, HSI, DEA and prosecutors — works better than leaving single agencies to fight alone. But words from a podium won’t stop cartels forever. Sustained pressure, more resources, and clear policy from Washington are what close the gaps cartels exploit.
Keep pressure on — and give agents what they need
Operation Southern Surge deserves credit. Give the agents their due and demand that elected leaders do the rest. We should celebrate seizures and arrests, but not be satisfied until the networks are dismantled and prosecutions follow. If politicians want to play tough on crime, now is the time to fund the tools, back the task forces, and close the policy holes that let this traffic keep happening. Otherwise we’ll keep reading about drugs hidden in produce while someone in Washington claims the border is secure.
