Series synopsis
To Catch a Smuggler is an American documentary reality crime drama television series that premiered on National Geographic on January 1, 2020.
Millions enter the US through airports each year, and hid amongst them are a stream of contraband ill intentions. Defending our borders are the vigilant men and women of the Department of Homeland Security, whose agencies make up a three-tiered defense of America’s airports. DHS will stop at nothing to catch a smuggler.
Premise
Millions enter the US through airports each year, and hid amongst them are a stream of contraband ill intentions. Defending our borders are the vigilant men and women of the Department of Homeland Security, whose agencies make up a three-tiered defense of America’s airports. DHS will stop at nothing to catch a smuggler.
Episodes
This series spans 12 seasons with 112 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 5 | October 8, 2012 | November 5, 2012 |
| Season 1 | 8 | January 1, 2020 | February 19, 2020 |
| Season 2 | 15 | January 19, 2021 | May 19, 2021 |
| Season 3 | 12 | February 9, 2022 | April 27, 2022 |
| Season 4 | 10 | September 14, 2022 | November 16, 2022 |
| Season 5 | 8 | May 10, 2023 | June 28, 2023 |
| Season 6 | 8 | July 26, 2023 | September 27, 2023 |
| Season 7 | 8 | April 24, 2024 | June 12, 2024 |
| Season 8 | 8 | September 2, 2024 | October 16, 2024 |
| Season 9 | 8 | July 16, 2025 | September 3, 2025 |
| Season 10 | 8 | February 25, 2026 | February 25, 2026 |
| Season 11 | 14 | January 7, 2023 | February 18, 2023 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Courier to Kingpin Customs and Border Protection officers found 4 kilos of cocaine in the suitcase of a passenger arriving from Guyana. Homeland Security investigators are interrogating him and trying to find out who he brought the drugs for. Later, a young man from the Dominican Republic is stopped and questioned for his nervous behavior, while a man from Bangladesh comes forward with a confusing story. Meanwhile, investigative units scan luggage on overnight flights with X-ray machines and dogs in search of illegal substances, while postal packages are screened for contraband. |
October 8, 2012 |
| 2 |
Cavity Courier Two passengers arriving from Guyana will also be noticed by customs. Cocaine was found in the converted suitcase of one of them, while the other was unable to give a meaningful answer when stopped and was taken in for questioning to find out the reason for his confusion. During the passport control, a suspicious stamp of a passenger arriving from Paraguay is noticed by the inspectors. A passenger from Jamaica is found to have cocaine in his shoe sole and is interrogated by a special agent for internal security. Meanwhile, postal packages are screened for illicit substances and an agricultural specialist searches passengers' baggage for illicit foodstuffs. |
October 15, 2012 |
| 3 |
Hidden Heroin CBP's target team discovers a package containing engine pistons. When the weights of each piston begin to differ drastically, the officers decide to drill for drugs, leading them to a heroin trafficker in D.C. |
October 22, 2012 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Internal Investigation MIA CBP investigates a traveler suspected of smuggling drugs internally. JFK HSI conducts a controlled delivery of ecstasy to Wall Street in Manhattan. |
January 1, 2020 |
| 2 |
Club Drugs and Party People MIA CBP finds a package of ecstasy, which leads to a controlled delivery and arrest. JFK CBP questions a traveler connected to known drug smugglers. |
January 7, 2020 |
| 3 |
Suspicious Suitcase MIA CBP searches a traveler with a suspicious story and suitcase. JFK HSI works to open pistons filled with drugs, which leads to a controlled delivery. |
January 15, 2020 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Mama's Meth HSI conducts a controlled delivery of meth, while CBP deals with an unruly passenger. |
January 20, 2021 |
| 2 |
The Coke Inside Using an undercover agent, HSI finds a meth smuggler in Atlanta. CBP officers catch a passenger in New York with drugs inserted inside of her. |
January 27, 2021 |
| 3 |
Party Drugs CBP looks out for party drugs, prostitutes and counterfeit goods entering Miami during Super Bowl. HSI tracks the case of a drug-filled car battery. |
February 3, 2021 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Smuggled and Muzzled CBP Nogales uncovers cocaine in the bumper of a car crossing from Mexico, and CBP Atlanta stops a woman smuggling underaged puppies from Brazil. |
February 9, 2022 |
| 2 |
Jungle Stash CBP hunts for drug runners off the coast and in the jungles of Puerto Rico, while CBP Laredo seizes 130 lbs of marijuana hidden inside BBQ grills. |
February 16, 2022 |
| 3 |
Bunked in a Trunk Officers confront human smuggling at the border and nab a car loaded with fentanyl |
February 23, 2022 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Cocaine Snapper HSI Miami catches a shipment of cocaine-filled fish, CBP takes on human smuggling at the border, and agriculture specialists in ATL search passengers. |
September 14, 2022 |
| 2 |
Talibani Treasure Trove HSI busts a ketamine smuggler in Miami, K9s sniff out fentanyl in San Diego and JFK officers uncover ancient gold looted from Afghanistan. |
September 21, 2022 |
| 3 |
Tunnel from Tijuana AMO Puerto Rico sinks a marine smuggling op. In San Diego, HSI shuts down a tunnel dug under the border by a cartel, and a CBP K9 finds drugs in a car. |
September 28, 2022 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Boatloads of Coke CBP finds an SUV loaded with meth at the border and counterfeit cash in Atlanta. Operation Blood Moon yields 2000 kilos of cocaine in Puerto Rico. |
May 10, 2023 |
| 2 |
Hot Drugs In the heat of El Paso, CBP stops 30 kilos of cocaine from crossing the border. Officers intercept $150K worth of illegal pills in Philadelphia. |
May 17, 2023 |
| 3 |
Popped for Pills CBP and HSI target 25,000 ecstasy pills intercepted in Germany bound for PHL. CBP finds $143K of meth at the border, and an ancient statue at JFK. |
May 24, 2023 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Junk in the Trunk An HSI stakeout leads to nearly $500K of meth and fentanyl in San Diego. CBP finds concealed cash and a carload of cocaine at the El Paso border. |
July 26, 2023 |
| 2 |
Asleep on Lots of Coke PR AMO team hunts down boat loaded with $41M of coke. CBP gets a tip about money smugglers and finds cocaine and people inside car trunks. |
August 2, 2023 |
| 3 |
To the Grinder HSI Orange County performs 3 undercover drug stings with multiple arrests. CBP finds cocaine hidden under a vehicle's backseat in Rio Grande Valley. |
August 9, 2023 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Cocaine Leaks and Ancient Greeks HSI San Diego runs down a drug smuggler during a parking lot cocaine transfer. CBP at JFK discovers gold coins and ancient artifacts in mail parcels. |
April 24, 2024 |
| 2 |
Not My Meth A mother crossing by car with her kids is caught smuggling cocaine in El Paso. AMO shoots out the engine of a boat loaded with coke in Puerto Rico. |
May 1, 2024 |
| 3 |
Pots of Coke HSI tracks a shipment of $12.6 million worth of cocaine hidden in gardening pots. CBP seizes illicit ammo and cash traveling to Mexico. |
May 8, 2024 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Unholy Guacamole HSI finds cocaine hidden in frozen avocado paste; CBP recovers stolen cars. |
September 2, 2024 |
| 2 |
Weed In, Weed Out Border Patrol chases suspect fleeing arrest; CBP stops weed leaving U.S. |
September 4, 2024 |
| 3 |
Blitzed at the Border CBP in McAllen faces a possible bomb; HSI arrests fentanyl traffickers. |
September 11, 2024 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Meth-Mom Mayhem HSI busts meth smugglers in San Diego; CBP intercepts drug body carriers. |
July 16, 2025 |
| 2 |
Blow Overboard AMO agents in Puerto Rico chase a fleeing boat carrying $2.5 million worth of cocaine. |
July 23, 2025 |
| 3 |
Meth Hot Chili Peppers HSI finds illegal guns in Miami, CBP in Texas seizes meth worth millions. |
July 30, 2025 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Pill-Packing Pilot AMO chases a boat tossing cocaine overboard. CBP seizes pills from a pilot. |
February 25, 2026 |
| 2 |
Shiny, White and Lethal Border Patrol finds a smuggling tunnel. CBP seizes silver bars and coke. |
February 25, 2026 |
| 3 |
High Caliber Highway HSI St. Louis pursues gun traffickers. CBP stops siblings hiding money. |
February 25, 2026 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Biosecurity Baddies A lying lover is stopped in customs after the U.S. sends a warning, car parts are used as a disguise, and a few creepy pests are found in Biosecurity. |
January 7, 2023 |
| 2 |
Customs Crackdown Something fishy is found in customs when a package from Africa is searched, authorities deal with an irate passenger, and a DJ is sent back home. |
January 7, 2023 |
| 3 |
Meth Between the Sheets An irritated passenger's attitude gets him a return flight to the UK. |
January 14, 2023 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | National Geographic |
|---|---|
| First aired | January 1, 2020 |
| Last aired | February 25, 2026 |
| Runtime | 44 minutes |
| Status | continue |
| Schedule | Wednesday at 21:00:00 |