DPS, CBP launch campaign to tackle illicit medication smuggling from Mexico

PROGRESO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Texas Department of Public Safety and U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced a new joint campaign today at the Progreso International Bridge to combat illicit medication smuggling from Mexico.

The campaign aims to tackle the issue of prescription drugs being brought into Texas without valid prescriptions, as officials have noted a 27% increase in illegal opioid smuggling from Mexico compared to last year.

"If you are smuggling prescription drugs into Texas, without a valid prescription, you will be arrested and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," said Christopher Olivarez of the Texas Highway Patrol.

CBP officials emphasized that while no new laws are being implemented, there is a renewed focus on enforcing existing regulations. Travelers are reminded to declare medications, show valid prescriptions, and keep them in original labeled containers to avoid penalties.

Tim Mockapetris, a resident of Spring, Texas, expressed concern about the crackdown as he relies on tramadol for chronic back pain. He noted that he might not be able to continue obtaining his medication from Mexico unless he has a prescription.

In contrast, Karla Davis from San Antonio and Antonio Martinez from Harlingen supported the crackdown, acknowledging the problem of people smuggling drugs without prescriptions.

Donald Kusser, Director of Field Operations for CBP, highlighted that the focus is on those smuggling large quantities of medications for resale, rather than personal use.

The joint campaign underscores the commitment of Texas DPS and CBP to curb illegal drug smuggling, with increased enforcement expected to deter those attempting to bring unprescribed medications into the U.S.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KVEO. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KVEO staff before being published.