US Customs discover hidden pork products in vehicle

Jun 17, 2024

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and agriculture specialists discovered almost 125 pounds of prohibited pork products in a single enforcement action at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge, according to a CBP press release.

“Seizures like this significant interception of prohibited pork products underscore CBP’s commitment and dedication to its mission and help prevent the spread of animal diseases that could have a detrimental effect on US agriculture and livestock as well as the US economy,” said Port Director Albert Flores, Laredo Port of Entry.

The seizure occurred on Monday, June 3, 2024, at approximately 12:30 p.m. when CBP officers assigned to the Juarez Lincoln Bridge referred a Dodge Charger to secondary inspection. Upon closer physical inspection of the vehicle, CBP officers and agriculture specialists encountered several black bags containing prohibited pork items within the passenger side of the vehicle. Further examination 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.

CBP agriculture specialists issued a $1,000 civil penalty to the driver for the undeclared commercial quantity of prohibited pork products and CBP officers seized the vehicle.

CBP agriculture specialists enforce United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) quarantines to prevent the entry of pests and plant & animal diseases that could damage the agriculture industry in the US Attempting to bring in prohibited agricultural items could lead to traveler delays and may result in a fine ranging from $300 to $1,000.

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Video: Food Inflation and Pork Demand - Dr. Sylvain Charlebois

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Professor and Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, discusses how food inflation is reshaping Canadian protein demand. He explains why pork remains competitively priced, consumer behavior, and why transparency, AI-assisted shopping, and protein demand will matter in the years ahead. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The potential of pork is there. We just need to see the product assume that role and take it away because all the elements are there."

Meet the guest: Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in Dalhousie University's Faculty of Management and Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab. His research focuses on food distribution, food policy, food safety, food security, and traceability. Dr. Charlebois has written four books and more than 500 peer-reviewed and scientific articles. He holds a BComm from the Royal Military College, an MBA from UQAM, and a DBA from the University of Sherbrooke. Learn more from Dr. Sylvain Charlebois on The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, available on all major platforms.