CBP Seizes Heroin-Fentanyl Mix at Galveston Cruise Port

A passenger was taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Galveston Cruise Port on April 20 after a baggage inspection revealed nearly 72 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl, along with 96 grams of THC vape oil.

The individual, a U.S. citizen, was detained during a secondary luggage screening. According to CBP, officers discovered several vape pens suspected to contain marijuana-based THC oil, as well as prescription pill bottles—two of which contained a powdery substance. Field testing later confirmed that the powder was a combination of heroin and fentanyl.

CBP handed the suspect over to local law enforcement for further legal action.

“Fentanyl is a weapon of mass destruction in this country, and CBP works every day to keep Americans safe from dangerous and deadly drugs,” said Acting CBP Area Port Director John Landry. “This is a significant priority for CBP and our law enforcement partners. Thanks to the vigilance of our brave and dedicated CBP officers, we continue to intercept these deadly substances at our ports of entry before they can do damage in our local communities.”

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that can be up to 100 times stronger than morphine, remains the top cause of overdose fatalities in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Just one kilogram of fentanyl can be lethal to as many as 500,000 people. While fentanyl is legally prescribed for severe pain, illegal forms are often produced in unregulated laboratories and trafficked into the country.