CBP highlights end-of-year border security successes in Tucson

Significant decline in illegal border crossings and major narcotics seizures

TUCSON, Ariz. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection Tucson leadership held a press conference to highlight end of fiscal year border security successes at the U.S. Border Patrol's Tucson Sector headquarters on Wednesday.

U.S. Border Patrol Acting Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Stephen Cristinzio explained that increased border security measures, stronger enforcement of Title 8 immigration laws and more manpower along the border - including Border Patrol agents and Department of War military personnel - have resulted in a dramatic decrease in illegal border crossings over the last year. Additionally, more infrastructure, including new border barriers and surveillance technology, helped reduce illegal border crossings in Tucson Sector from more than 460,000 in FY 2024 to about 16,000 in FY 2026 - a 96% reduction.

Deputy Chief Cristinzio also credited the Homeland Security Task Force, other federal partners, and local law enforcement for their assistance in arresting dangerous criminal illegal aliens and removing them from the community.

"In the past 17 months, there have been no releases of illegal aliens into the interior of the country, making it harder for Mexican cartels to market their illegal smuggling services," said Cristinzio. "Our communities and our border regions are safer because of the work that is being done to secure the border."

Also, throughout FY 2026, CBP officers at Arizona ports of entry intercepted more than 15,000 pounds of illicit narcotics, including significant quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.

Highlighting evolving transnational criminal organization tactics, CBP Tucson Field Office Director Roque Caza discussed a dangerous shift by cartels, which are increasingly smuggling fentanyl in powder form. Leveraging advanced technology, nonintrusive inspection systems, and highly trained canine units, Arizona ports of entry accounted for over 30% of all fentanyl seized by CBP nationwide in FY 2026. Additionally, Tucson Field Office, increased outbound ammunition interdictions destined for cartels in Mexico by more than 400%.

"By stopping these dangerous narcotics at the border, we are preventing this poison from entering our communities," said Caza. "I am very proud of the work our officers do every day to stop lethal drugs, criminal aliens, and harmful agricultural pests from entering our country, while aggressively cutting off the flow of outbound ammunition to the cartels."

CBP Air and Marine Operations Tucson Deputy Director Greg Tolley, in addition to discussing humanitarian rescues, also had good news to discuss as AMO's Tucson Air Branch led the nation in AMO fentanyl seizures in FY 2026. Tucson Air Branch agents collaborated with Border Patrol and other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in the seizure of 488 lbs. of fentanyl and 283 lbs. of cocaine in FY 2026.

"Through the coordinated efforts of the Homeland Security Task Force, the Tucson Air Branch prevented millions of potentially lethal doses of fentanyl from reaching American communities in Fiscal Year 2026," said Deputy Director Tolley. "These operations save lives by disrupting cartel networks before their deadly product can reach our neighborhoods. Working alongside our federal, state, local, tribal, and international partners, we remain committed to protecting the American people."

Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, the dedicated men and women of CBP, alongside our law enforcement partners and with the help of the Homeland Security Task Force, are eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, human smuggling and drug trafficking networks.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. The 70,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground, in the air and on the seas. We enforce safe, lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity. We enhance the nation's security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration and trust.

• Topics
• Border Security
• Drug Seizure
• Weapon