SANTA TERESA, New Mexico -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations Agriculture Specialists working at the Santa Teresa area port of entry seized 30 rolls of Mexican bologna yesterday. 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 9:45 p.m. after a 2006 Toyota Highlander with Texas license plates entered the port from Mexico. The driver made a negative declaration for any agriculture products. A CBP officer at the primary inspection station selected the vehicle for a secondary exam. Upon inspection of the vehicle, CBP agriculture specialists discovered the rolls of bologna concealed under toys and personal belongings in the cargo area. The contraband meat was seized and destroyed. The driver was fined an administrative penalty of $1000.
"Travelers should understand that they can avoid civil penalties by declaring all agricultural items they are importing from Mexico. If the item they declare is prohibited it can be abandoned at the port without consequence," said CBP Santa Teresa Acting Port Director Jesse Proctor. “CBP agriculture specialists are highly trained and have the knowledge to recognize the presence of pests or disease on agricultural commodities as well as to identify prohibited products.”
CBP has been entrusted with enforcing hundreds of laws for 40 other government agencies, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These agencies require that unsafe items are not allowed to enter the United States. CBP officers are always at 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.