WASHINGTON — Customs and Border Protection officials have reported an increase in drug and cash seizures made at borders across the country.
So far this year, officials have seized more than 4.47 million pounds of narcotics and $57.9 million in currency, which is a 74-percent increase from 2008.
In addition to seizures, customs officers have encountered more than 224,000 inadmissible immigrants at national borders and arrested more than 556,000.
They have also facilitated nearly $2 trillion in legitimate trade.
"This data illustrates the tremendous work the men and women of CBP perform every day on the front lines protecting our borders while ensuring the efficient flow of travel and trade," Customs Acting Commissioner Jayson Ahern said in a news release.
"Our layered approach to security and increased tactical infrastructure, technology and personnel at our borders has led to significant progress in securing our nation and making our communities safer."
Officials said the past year has yielded the agency's most successful drug-enforcement efforts since 2004, noting a 53-percent increase in cocaine seizures in particular.
This year, officers at 327 ports of entry inspected 361.2 million travelers and more than 108.5 million cars, buses, trains, vessels and aircraft.
Additionally, they arrested 38,964 suspected criminals and apprehended more than 9,500 people with serious criminal records including murder, rape and child molestation.
For more information about the annual statistics, visit www.cbp.gov.
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