U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialists intercepted a shipment of prohibited pork bologna at the Paso Del Norte international crossing in El Paso, Texas on March 28, 2025. The items were discovered after an inspection of a vehicle driven by a 52-year-old male U.S. citizen from Albuquerque, New Mexico. The driver, after initially declaring no fruits, vegetables, or meat products, was referred for a secondary agriculture inspection.
Canine officer “Harlee” alerted handlers to the vehicle's rear cargo area, where specialists found 22 rolls of bologna concealed under equipment. Additionally, 60 undeclared Tramadol tablets were found in the vehicle's center console. The medication is classified as a schedule IV-controlled substance. The driver received a $1,000 promissory note for this violation.
The bologna case has been forwarded to the USDA Investigative and Enforcement Services. If found guilty, the driver could face penalties of up to $10,000. The seized bologna was destroyed following USDA regulations.
This is the second time in two months that the same individual has been caught attempting to smuggle bologna from Mexico into the U.S. at the El Paso port of entry. A similar incident in January resulted in the seizure of 55 rolls of undeclared bologna and a civil penalty.
CBP El Paso Director Field Operations, Hector A. Mancha, emphasized the potential harm of introducing foreign animal diseases through pork products, which "can have a devastating impact to the U.S. economy and to our agriculture industry.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Homeland Security collaborate to protect American agriculture from foreign pests and diseases. Undeclared prohibited agricultural items will be confiscated, and failure to declare such items can result in a civil penalty.
CBP, the largest law enforcement organization in the nation, serves as America's unified border management agency. It ensures national security and economic prosperity through safe travel and trade.
