To Catch a Smuggler

Watch To Catch a Smuggler

  • TV-14
  • 2020
  • 11 Seasons
  • 6.9  (261)

To Catch a Smuggler is a gripping TV series produced by National Geographic that follows the daily activities of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers as they work to prevent illegal goods from entering the country at JFK International Airport in New York City, one of the busiest airports in the world.

Denise Toto, a veteran CBP officer with more than 25 years of experience, and Jim Finn, a former NYPD detective who became a CBP officer, lead the team of officers who are responsible for keeping the airport's borders safe. Every day, they have to deal with a wide range of threats, from drugs and contraband to guns, counterfeit products, and even wildlife smuggling.

The show provides an inside look at the daily operations of the CBP officers, who work tirelessly to ensure that nothing is overlooked at the airport. The officers have to be vigilant and maintain a high level of attention to detail as smugglers use a variety of tactics to try and evade detection.

To Catch a Smuggler shows how CBP officers use a wide range of equipment and technology to scan luggage and cargo, such as X-ray machines, radiation detectors, and drug-sniffing dogs. They also use their instincts, training, and experience to identify suspicious behavior and intercept illegal goods.

The show is filled with suspenseful moments as the officers race against the clock to intercept smugglers before they can escape the airport. They often have to work in coordination with law enforcement agencies in other countries to track down the origin of illegal goods and the people behind smuggling operations.

One particularly interesting aspect of the show is its focus on the human element of smuggling. Viewers get to see how smugglers try to conceal illegal goods using a range of imaginative methods, such as hiding drugs in everyday objects or sewing them into clothing. The show also highlights the social and economic factors that drive people to get involved in smuggling, such as poverty, greed, and desperation.

To Catch a Smuggler is a must-watch for anyone interested in law enforcement, border security, or the fight against organized crime. The show provides a fascinating insight into the daily struggles of CBP officers as they try to keep America's borders safe.

The show's production quality is excellent, with high-definition footage and dramatic reenactments of smuggling attempts that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The production team also does an excellent job of explaining the technology and techniques used by CBP officers in a way that is easy to understand for laypeople.

Overall, To Catch a Smuggler is an entertaining, informative, and thought-provoking show that provides a unique perspective on the world of smuggling and law enforcement. Denise Toto, Jim Finn, and the rest of the CBP team are true heroes who risk their lives every day to keep America safe, and this show is a testament to their bravery and dedication.

To Catch a Smuggler is a series that ran for 11 seasons (95 episodes) between January 1, 2020 and on National Geographic

To Catch a Smuggler
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Seasons
True Lime Crime
8. True Lime Crime
April 15, 2026
Homeland Security Investigations in Puerto Rico seized cocaine from an abandoned boat on the beach. In Texas, Customs and Border Protection officers uncovered packages of methamphetamine hidden within pallets from a large shipment of limes. With the drug pouches stuck to the wood, it takes them many hours to retrieve the load. At the Port of Newark, CBP discovers stolen vehicles concealed inside shipping containers about to be sent out of the country.
The Dope Boat
7. The Dope Boat
April 8, 2026
Homeland Security Investigations along with Air and Marine Operations in Miami intercept a sailboat coming from Colombia with bricks of cocaine onboard. And at the mail facility, CBP Contraband Enforcement Team intercepts kilos of marijuana stuffed inside an ottoman. At Dulles International Airport, which serves Washington, D.C., a rookie K9 alerts on a passenger with suitcases full of THC oil jars and drug paraphernalia heading to Europe.
Rolling in Coke
6. Rolling in Coke
April 1, 2026
U.S. Coast Guard, Air and Marine Operations, and Homeland Security Investigations join forces in Florida to target a suspected human smuggling ring. In Texas, U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspects a truck loaded with construction materials and uncovers a cunningly concealed cache of cocaine – almost 200 kilos hidden in rolls of plastic. And at Newark International Airport, a rookie CBP officer is eager to undertake her first drug bust, though the substance in question is not quite what she expected.
Dope Rides in the Thundercat
5. Dope Rides in the Thundercat
March 25, 2026
Air and Marine Operations in St. Thomas arrest a suspected smuggler and chase a vessel fleeing into British Virgin Island waters. U.S. Customs and Border Protection busts a mother-daughter duo smuggling large amounts of marijuana through Miami International Airport to the Caribbean. In El Paso, alerts from the K9 at the Sierra Blanca checkpoint lead U.S. Border Patrol agents to the discovery of drugs and guns in multiple vehicles.
Whole Lotta Blow
4. Whole Lotta Blow
March 18, 2026
The U.S. Coast Guard stops smugglers with over 13,000 kilos of cocaine at sea and transfers custody to Homeland Security Investigations for prosecution. At Dulles International Airport, near the nation’s capital, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers uncover weapons heading outbound during checks for unreported currency. In El Paso, CBP Agricultural Specialists inspect live and deceased animals to protect the U.S. from foreign diseases, like avian flu.
High Caliber Highway
3. High Caliber Highway
March 11, 2026
Homeland Security Investigation agents find themselves in a high-speed chase after gun traffickers flee the scene of an undercover deal gone wrong in St. Louis. U.S. Customs and Border Protection halt a money structuring scheme after family members try to conceal cash to avoid reporting. At the International Mail Facility in JFK, CBP uncovers multiple parcels containing illicit narcotics.
Shiny, White and Lethal
2. Shiny, White and Lethal
March 4, 2026
In Texas, Border Patrol uncovers a massive drug smuggling tunnel, linking Juarez to El Paso. At Fort Lauderdale Airport, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seizes silver bars, cocaine bricks and a gun hidden in the checked luggage of passengers. At Atlanta International Airport, CBP agriculture specialists search for prohibited items with the help of their skilled beagles.
The Pill-Packing Pilot
1. The Pill-Packing Pilot
February 25, 2026
On the west coast of Puerto Rico, Air and Marine Operations chase down and arrest smugglers caught tossing bales of cocaine overboard. At the Fort Lauderdale Airport, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seizes over a thousand hydrocodone pills from an airline pilot returning from Colombia. At Atlanta International Airport, CBP consults with archaeologists to verify the authenticity of several artifacts they suspect were looted.
Description
Where to Watch To Catch a Smuggler
To Catch a Smuggler is available for streaming on the National Geographic website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch To Catch a Smuggler on demand at Disney+, Prime Video, Hulu, Fandango at Home, Microsoft Movies & TV, Google Play, Apple TV Store and National Geographic.
  • Premiere Date
    January 1, 2020
  • IMDB Rating
    6.9  (261)