Drug traffickers appear to be getting more creative in their efforts to smuggle dangerous narcotics into the United States. In a recent twist, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials intercepted traffickers attempting to conceal fentanyl in a hamburger. 

The incident, which occurred on March 23 at the Paso del Norte International Bridge, highlights the ongoing battle against drug trafficking and the challenges faced by officials attempting to curtail the criminal enterprise.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at El Paso area ports of entry seized a large amount of drugs being smuggled into the country in novel ways. One female was caught hiding fentanyl inside her body, another in a hamburger.

In the past two weeks, CBP El Paso POE agents seized more than 62 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 25 pounds of fentanyl, and more than 158 pounds of marijuana.

Two milligrams of fentanyl, the weight of a mosquito, is considered a lethal dose. One pound of fentanyl, or 453,592 milligrams, is enough to kill 226,796 people; 25 pounds is enough to kill 5.6 million people.

According to AddictionResources.net, a lethal dose of methamphetamine is an estimated 200 milligrams. Based on these estimates and the seizure amounts, CBP agents seized enough lethal doses of meth to kill more than 14 million people.

The way the drugs were smuggled in also posed a danger to those smuggling them and to CBP agents potentially exposed to them, officials told The Center Square.

This story represents a small snapshot of the broader challenges facing U.S. border officials – especially when it concerns fentanyl manufactured in China and smuggled into the country by Mexican drug cartels. Last year, the authorities confiscated more than 77 million fentanyl pills and 12,000 pounds in powder form. Needless to say, this year has already been quite busy for CBP.

In an April 2 release, CBP said that they have had a busy last two weeks intercepting illegal drugs and arresting fugitives.

A total of 62.18 pounds of methamphetamine, 25.27 pounds of fentanyl, 158.64 pounds of marijuana were intercepted, $162,539 of illicit currency was seized, and 44 fugitives were arrested within the last two weeks, the agency said.

The hamburger scheme is part of a broader pattern of smugglers trying innovative ways to get drugs into the country. There have been several reports of smugglers hiding their contraband inside body cavities and other locations. In one instance, a man tried to cross the border with methamphetamine strapped to his leg. Another involved a woman concealing drugs in her vaginal cavity.

Drug trafficking has become a dire issue in the United States. It has caused record numbers of overdose deaths. The situation at the southern border is one of the primary culprits. Fentanyl coming from Mexico is typically laced into regular street drugs, meaning that many of those who suffer the effects aren't aware they are taking it in the first place.

As drug traffickers become more creative in smuggling narcotics into the United States, CBP and other agencies are being forced to adapt. Unfortunately, as long as the border crisis persists without the White House taking action, there will still be plenty of drugs that make it past the authorities.