Authorities seized hundreds of pounds of cocaine worth approximately $6 million concealed in the floor of an empty semi trailer at a New York border crossing.
On September 22, 2026, a 21-year-old Canadian man approached the Port of Buffalo’s Lewiston Bridge border crossing in a commercial truck seeking entry into the U.S.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers inspecting the vehicle noted “modifications” to the floor of the empty trailer.
A canine unit alerted to the presence of drugs.
The truck and trailer were referred for a secondary inspection.
Nonintrusive imaging technology revealed anomalies in the floor of the trailer.
Agents performed a physical search and located 174 vacuum-sealed packages of suspected cocaine, which field-tested positive.
CBP
CBP seized about 450 pounds of cocaine with a street value of about $6 million.
The case was referred to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo for further investigation.
“This significant seizure highlights the exceptional vigilance, advanced training and relentless dedication of our CBP officers and canine teams at the Lewiston Bridge border crossing,” said Sharon Swiatek, acting port director for the Area Port of Buffalo. “While a large focus of our border security mission is on inbound threats, our officers remain equally sharp during outbound operations to dismantle transborder criminal networks, disrupt the flow of dangerous narcotics and protect communities on both sides of the border.”
Last week Tuesday (Sept.22) CBP officers at the Lewiston, NY border crossing to Canada discovered 400 lbs. of vacuum-sealed cocaine secreted inside the flooring of a commercial vehicle trailer.
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— CBP Buffalo (@CBPBuffalo) September 29, 2026
