What percentage of fentanyl seizures occur at U.S. land border crossings versus ports of entry according to CBP data?

1. How CBP separates the math: ports of entry (OFO) versus between ports (USBP)

CBP divides enforcement into the Office of Field Operations (OFO)—which inspects goods and people at official ports of entry, including land border ports—and the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP), which interdicts between ports; CBP’s data dashboards and enforcement statistics present seizures by those operational lines, and public CBP summaries state that most fentanyl seizures occur at southwest border ports of entry ^{[5] [4] [1]}.

2. What “most” means in numbers: the ~90% figure and its sources

Multiple CBP communications and independent organizations cite that close to 90% of CBP’s fentanyl seizures occur at official border crossings—nearly 90% according to a CBP “CBP Access” summary and similar phrasing in analyses by the Wilson Center and the American Immigration Council that rely on CBP releases and the agency’s data portal ^{[1] [2] [3]}. Those sources, quoting CBP statistics and press releases, anchor the commonly reported headline that roughly nine out of ten pounds seized by CBP are intercepted at ports of entry rather than between them ^{[1] [2]}.

3. Fiscal-year examples and geographic context

CBP’s FY‑2024 and FY‑2023 figures documented tens of thousands of pounds seized on the southwest border (for example, roughly 21,148 pounds in FY‑2024 cited by FactCheck), and FactCheck’s breakdown highlights that “the vast majority” of that volume was intercepted at legal ports of entry rather than via illegal crossings—underscoring that the high-percent port-of-entry claim is grounded in year‑to‑year weighted totals, not just isolated seizures ^[6]. The Wilson Center notes the concentration of seizures in states such as California and Arizona, where ports of entry handle heavy cargo and passenger traffic that can conceal large shipments ^[2].

4. Why ports of entry show such a large share—operational and smuggling realities

Smugglers exploit legitimate cargo channels and passenger vehicles at ports of entry to move bulk fentanyl, and CBP emphasizes interdiction tools—non‑intrusive inspection systems, canine teams, intelligence and inspections—at ports that can uncover large loads concealed in commercial shipments, which helps explain why the bulk of weight is seized there ^{[7] [1]}. Analysts also point out that many high‑weight seizures involve U.S. citizens or legitimate commercial traffic moving through legal crossings—a pattern repeatedly noted in CBP press releases and in third‑party reviews ^{[3] [8]}.

5. Caveats, data limits and alternative readings

Public reporting leans on CBP summaries, press releases and the agency’s interactive dashboards; the precise percentage fluctuates by month and fiscal year and CBP cautions that its public statistics are subject to revision and depend on evolving definitions and pending seizure adjudications, so the “about 90%” figure is a rounded characterization rather than a fixed statutory ratio ^{[4] [5]}. Independent analysts also emphasize that while most weight is seized at ports, small, deadly quantities can arrive through international mail, parcel carriers, and other non‑land crossings—modes that matter for overdose risk but may not change the large‑weight distribution reported by CBP ^{[1] [9]}.

6. Direct answer

According to CBP summaries and multiple independent analyses that use CBP data, approximately 85–90% (commonly reported as “nearly 90%”) of fentanyl by weight seized by CBP is intercepted at official ports of entry, with the remaining roughly 10–15% seized by Border Patrol between ports and at other entry points; the precise proportion varies by month and fiscal year and can be verified in CBP’s public data portal and enforcement statistics dashboards ^{[1] [2] [3] [6]}.