The inspectors found around 125 pounds of prohibited goods
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
At federal points of entry across the U.S., Customs and Border Protection (CBP) ag specialists inspect cargo to ensure products entering the U.S. aren’t potential hazards to American agriculture or the agrifood sectors.
Here are a few recent examples of the shipments these specialists prevented from entering the country.
On June 3 at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge in Laredo, Texas, inspectors discovered a Dodge Charger containing around 125 pounds of prohibited pork products.
Examination of the vehicle “revealed a total of 25 kilograms of chorizo, 25 kilograms of pork sausage, three kilograms of pork meat and two kilograms of unrendered pork lard,” in black backs on the passenger side, the CBP said in a statement.
The driver received a $1,000 fine and CBP officers seized the vehicle.
At the same location in March, CBP ag officers intercepted a Chevrolet Colorado arriving from Mexico.
Officials discovered multiple boxes and coolers filled with undocumented goods.
This included nearly 500 pounds of mangoes and 10 pounds of pork producers. Sweet potatoes, cashew fruit and nance fruit were also present in the vehicle.
“This significant amount of prohibited agricultural items seized illustrates the important work of our frontline CBP agriculture specialists in preventing harmful prohibited agriculture products from entering the U.S. and in so doing they prevent the possible entry of plant and animal pests and diseases which could harm the nation’s food supply,” Port Director Albert Flores said in a statement.
That driver also received a fine of $1,000.
And at the Veterans International Bridge in March, ag specialists intercepted a vehicle containing live monkeys.
A female driver tried to bring the monkeys across the border into Texas in backpacks and a purse in her Toyota vehicle.
Homeland Security Investigations agents seized the vehicle and arrested the driver.
The monkeys were turned over to other officials and destined to be housed at the Glady’s Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas.
“According to the USDA APHIS, Mexico is affected with virulent Newcastle disease and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Both diseases affect poultry, are serious diseases of concern, and are highly contagious,” CBP said in a statement.