Mapping Drug Border Seizures

Drug Seizures Along the US-Mexico Border, from the Center of Investigative Journalism, examines the amount and types of drugs that have been seized being smuggled across the 2,000 mile border between the United States and Mexico.

The map plots 128,169 drug seizures made by the U.S. Border Patrol between Jan 2005 and Oct 2011. You can select which type of drug is plotted on the map (marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and other) using the buttons immediately beneath the map. The map also includes a timeline so that you can compare the number of each type of drug seized by year.

The amount of each drug seized at each U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint is represented by the size of the circle on the map. If you select a checkpoint station on the map you can also view details on the total number of seizures and the average weight of each seizure.