Texas Border Business
LAREDO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and agriculture specialists discovered live poultry and live insects in two separate enforcement actions this week at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge.
“These seizures of live poultry and insects underscore the important role our CBP agriculture specialists play in preventing pests and animal diseases from entering the U.S. and potentially inflicting economic harm to the U.S. agriculture industry,” said Port Director, Albert Flores, Laredo Port of Entry.
Arrayed on an inspection table are a bag of more than 100 live chinch bugs, plus hog plums, mangos and mamey seized by CBP agriculture specialists at Laredo Port of Entry.
The first seizure occurred on May 4 when CBP agriculture specialists assigned to the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge referred a Chevrolet Suburban to secondary inspection. During the examination, agriculture specialists encountered two live chickens and 30 eggs within the vehicle. CBP agriculture specialists issued a $300 penalty for failure to declare prohibited agriculture items.
The second incident occurred on May 6, when CBP officers referred a taxi to secondary inspection for a bag check. During examination of the vehicle, a CBP Agriculture Quarantine Inspection canine alerted officers and agriculture specialists to the passenger’s luggage. Further examination of the baggage revealed a bag with over 100 live chinch bugs. Agriculture specialists also seized other prohibited agriculture items, including mangos, hog plums and mamey. CBP agriculture specialists issued a $300 civil penalty.
Live poultry and raw eggs are prohibited from Mexico because of virulent Newcastle disease and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Live insects can carry disease or be harmful plant pests and are not allowed into the U.S.
CBP agriculture specialists enforce United States Department of Agriculture quarantines to prevent the entry of pests and plant & animal diseases that could damage the agriculture industry in the U.S. Attempting to bring in prohibited agricultural items could lead to traveler delays and may result in a fine ranging from $300 to $1,000.
CBP employees work diligently to fulfill CBP’s agriculture mission by excluding harmful pests and diseases from becoming established in the U.S. Read more about CBP’s agriculture mission.
