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  4. CBP Agriculture Specialists in Jacksonville Intercept 'First in the Nation' Pest

CBP Agriculture Specialists in Jacksonville Intercept 'First in the Nation' Pest

Release Date
Wed, 01/31/2018

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) agriculture specialists in Jacksonville discovered a potentially destructive pest while inspecting a shipment of used vehicles from Germany. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed that this marks the first interception of this pest in the United States.CBP: Protecting Agriculture

CBP agriculture specialists made the finding sifting through littered plant debris hidden inside a wheel well. Phalonidia sp. (Tortricidae) are considered serious pests often feeding on fruits of commercially important crops such as apples and peaches.

CBP agriculture specialists have extensive training and experience in the biological sciences and agricultural inspection. Each year, agriculture specialists intercept tens of thousands of “actionable pests” – those identified through scientific risk assessment and study as being dangerous to the health and safety of U.S. agricultural resources.

“Agriculture specialists are the first line of defense in the protection of American agriculture in Jacksonville and across the United States," said CBP Jacksonville Port Director Jennifer Bradshaw. "CBP's Office of Field Operations in northern Florida continues to be at the forefront in the detection of foreign invasive plants and plant pests."

CBP’s Office of Field Operations

Almost a million times each day, CBP officers welcome international travelers into the U.S.  In screening both foreign visitors and returning U.S. citizens, CBP uses a variety of techniques to intercept narcotics, unreported currency, weapons, prohibited agriculture, and other illicit products, and to assure that global tourism remains safe and strong.Each year, CBP agriculture specialists intercept tens of thousands of “actionable pests”.

On a typical day across the country, CBP agriculture specialists intercept 4,638 prohibited meat, plant materials or animal products, including 404 agriculture pests and diseases. 

To find out more about CBP operations in Florida, visit @CBPFlorida on Twitter.

Watch this video to learn more about CBP and its tremendously complex and important mission.

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: May 17, 2021