"Definition
"POE [Port Of Entry] illicit drug seizure rate – For each type of illicit drug seized by OFO [Office of Field Operations] at POEs, the ratio of illicit drugs seized in a single year to the average amount seized in the immediately preceding 5 years.
"Methodology and Limitations
"POE drug seizure data are obtained from OFO administrative records. These data are considered reliable. Pursuant to the definition of the illicit drug seizure rate directed by NDAA § 1092(c)(1)(C), the drug seizure rate describes recent seizure trends (i.e., current year compared to the previous 5 years); the measure does not describe the rate at which illicit drugs are seized. The drug seizure rate is an output metric, which compares trends in activity data over time. Drug seizures may be interpreted as a proxy indicator of illicit drug inflows through POEs, an outcome metric.
"Available Data and Discussion
"Marijuana seizures at POEs declined from a recent high of 273,000 kilograms in 2015 to 79,000 kilograms in 2021, after a brief increase to 147,000 in 2020. Cocaine seizures increased to 35,000 kilograms in 2021 after a record low of 19,000 kilograms in 2020. Heroin seizures have remained around 2,000 kilograms since 2018, with 2,100 kilograms seized in 2021. Methamphetamine seizures were at their highest levels since at least 2011 with 67,000 kilograms seized in 2021. Fentanyl seizures were also at their highest levels in 2021 (4,600 kilograms), up 1608 percent since 2016, the first full year in which data were available."
Department of Homeland Security. Border Security Metrics Report: 2022. July 3, 2023.