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: Season 7, Episode 1: Managing Risk and Seeing Opportunities in U.S. Pork Production

Today’s episode features three guests discussing the similarities and differences between pork production in the United States and Brazil, along with strategies for managing risk in today’s industry while recognizing and acting on opportunities. First, Dr. Anne Caroline de Lara, executive manager of live pig production at Seara Alimentos, a JBS company in Brazil, is joined by Dr. Matthew Turner, head of operations for JBS Live Pork. Together, they discuss how labor, climate and ventilation challenges vary between Brazil and the United States, while underscoring their shared commitment to raising healthy pigs. They also point to lessons producers in both countries can take from one another’s systems and on-farm experiences. Then, Brady Reicks, risk manager at Reicks View Farms, shares his perspective on risk management, drawing from his background in markets and his transition into farming. He discusses how protecting margins varies by operation and offers practical approaches producers can use to make marketing and business decisions with greater confidence rather than hesitation.

Both conversations were recorded at recent industry events focused on swine livability, including the International Conference on Pig Livability and Iowa Swine Day.