CBP and Mexico’s National Customs Agency strengthen joint efforts to combat trade fraud at the border

SAN DIEGO-U.S. Customs and Border Protection in San Diego and Mexico's Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México announced the successful completion of Operation Trade Bridge, a joint trade-enforcement operation conducted Oct. 19-23, 2026, at the Otay Mesa Cargo Export facility.

The operation brought together law enforcement personnel from U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Office of Field Operations, Centers of Excellence and Expertise, and Homeland Security Investigations, working in close coordination with officials from Mexico's Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México.

Operation Trade Bridge focused on identifying potential trade violations involving in-bond shipments moving between the United States and Mexico, particularly high-value electronics and textiles. Enforcement efforts targeted potential transshipment, undervaluation, inaccurate country-of-origin claims, and customs-documentation discrepancies. These practices can undermine legitimate trade, circumvent customs regulations, evade lawful duties, and result in significant revenue losses for both countries.

During the five-day operation, the task force and ANAM jointly offloaded and inspected 80% of the targeted shipments, resulting in cargo shipments having discrepancies or indicators requiring additional review. CBP personnel identified concerns involving declared value, Harmonized Tariff Schedule classifications, merchandise descriptions, quantities, and country-of-origin information.

Based on preliminary findings, several matters remain under review by CBP, ANAM, and partner agencies.

"Operation Trade Bridge demonstrates the strength of coordinated enforcement and our shared commitment to protecting the integrity of international supply chains," said Diane J. Sabatino, executive assistant commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations. "By combining CBP's export enforcement authorities with ANAM's customs expertise and data, we can identify potential duty-evasion schemes sooner, promote compliance, and protect American consumers."

A key outcome of the operation was the enhanced real-time exchange of information between CBP and ANAM. Working side by side, officials compared U.S. export records, commercial documentation, and Mexican customs data to rapidly identify inconsistencies and evaluate whether shipments complied with applicable trade requirements.

The collaboration also supported the identification of potential schemes in which goods may be routed through intermediary countries or inaccurately represented as originating in a country eligible for preferential duty treatment. CBP and ANAM will continue to coordinate on follow-up reviews, including verification of manufacturers, importers, exporters, and claimed country-of-origin documentation.

"ANAM's cooperation with CBP through Operation Trade Bridge reinforces our shared commitment to secure, fair, and lawful trade," said Héctor Alonso Romero Gutiérrez, commissioner of the Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México. "Strengthening information sharing and joint enforcement allows both countries to detect irregularities more quickly, investigate cross-border fraud more effectively, and protect revenues from those who seek to exploit our trade systems."

CBP and ANAM will build on the results of Operation Trade Bridge by expanding information-sharing channels, coordinating targeted enforcement activities, and improving the timely verification of trade data. These efforts will help both agencies detect and disrupt sophisticated commercial-fraud schemes, including transshipment and improper claims for preferential tariff treatment under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

Operation Trade Bridge reflects the United States' and Mexico's shared commitment to facilitating legitimate cross-border commerce. The operation focuses on identifying and addressing trade practices that undermine economic security and create an unfair advantage over compliant importers, exporters, and manufacturers.

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• Topics
• Office of Field Operations
• Trade
• Trade Enforcement