Measuring drug seizures at the southern border: How Reuters analyzed the data

FILE PHOTO: Fentanyl pills found by officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration are seen in this handout picture, in New York, U.S., October 4, 2022. Drug Enforcement Administration/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, Reuters obtained and analyzed a dataset of drug seizures by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents at ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexican border from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2022.

The seizures data analyzed by Reuters reflects changes in trafficking patterns and authorities' sharper focus on fentanyl, experts and officials said.