U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and agriculture specialists at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge in Laredo, Texas, recently uncovered live poultry and over 100 live insects in two separate enforcement actions. These discoveries highlight the ongoing efforts of CBP to prevent pests and animal diseases from entering the United States.
Port Director Albert Flores, Laredo Port of Entry, emphasized the significance of these actions: “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.”
The first incident occurred on May 4 when CBP agriculture specialists conducted a secondary inspection of a Chevrolet Suburban. Inside the vehicle, they found two live chickens and 30 eggs. The owner was issued a $300 penalty for failing to declare prohibited agricultural items.
On May 6, another case involved a taxi referred for secondary inspection due to a bag check. A CBP Agriculture Quarantine Inspection canine alerted officers to luggage containing over 100 live chinch bugs. Additionally, other prohibited items such as mangos, hog plums, and mamey were seized, resulting in another $300 civil penalty.
Live poultry and raw eggs are banned from Mexico because of concerns about virulent Newcastle disease and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Similarly, live insects can carry diseases or be harmful plant pests that pose risks to U.S. agriculture.
CBP's agriculture specialists enforce quarantines set by the United States Department of Agriculture to prevent harmful pests and diseases from entering the country. Attempting to bring in such items can lead to traveler delays and fines ranging from $300 to $1,000.
CBP employees remain committed to their mission of protecting America by excluding harmful pests and diseases from becoming established within its borders.
