EL PASO, Texas -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations officers and agriculture specialists working at the El Paso port of entry seized 23 rolls of Mexican bologna. The weight of the contraband meat was 227 pounds. The bologna is a prohibited product because it is made from pork and has the potential for introducing foreign animal diseases to the U.S. pork industry.
The seizure was made at approximately 7:00 a.m. Wednesday at the Paso Del Norte international crossing. CBP officers were performing an enforcement operation in the line of vehicles waiting to enter the U.S. and received a negative declaration for any fruits, vegetables, meat, meat products alcohol or tobacco from the female driver of a car in the queue. The driver again made a negative declaration for any agriculture products at the primary inspection station however, during a secondary exam, the driver amended her declaration and told CBP agriculture specialists she had “Salchicha” in the car. CBP agriculture specialists located the contraband meat under the floor mats of the car. The product was seized and destroyed and the driver was assessed a $1,000 civil penalty.
“CBP is entrusted with enforcing hundreds of laws for dozens other government agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and others,” said CBP El Paso Port Director Beverly Good. “These agencies require that unsafe items are not allowed to enter the United States. CBP officers are always on duty at our ports of entry and assume the responsibility of protecting America from all threats.”
While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all categories.