McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers recently confiscated live poultry, tropical fruit and 100 live chinch bugs in two vehicles attempting to cross from Mexico into South Texas, the agency says.
The seizures follow recent reports from the agency of confiscated illegal agriculture products trying to be crossed from Mexico into the United States. And the agency is also warning against bringing in certain flowers for Mother’s Day.
On Sunday, two live chickens and 30 eggs were seized from an SUV at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge that connects Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, to Laredo, CBP says.
On Tuesday, officers report that a bag with over 100 live chinch bugs were found in luggage belonging to a passenger of a taxi at the same bridge.
Illegal mangos, hog plums, and mamey also were confiscated from the taxi, CBP says.
In both instances, civil penalties of $300 were assessed for failure to declare prohibited agriculture items.
Live poultry and raw eggs are not allowed to be brought from Mexico because of the possibility of virulent Newcastle disease and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Live insects also can carry disease or be harmful to plants and are not allowed into the United States.
“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,” Laredo Port Director, Albert Flores said.
As Mother’s Day approaches, CBP warns the traveling public that before attempting to import flowers, plants or agricultural items, consult the CBP website for rules and regulations.
Mother’s Day is the second-busiest time of the year for flower imports, behind Valentine’s Day. Over 1.3 billion cut flowers are expected to be inspected leading up to Sunday’s Mother’s Day, CBP reports.
As of Sunday, CBP agriculture specialists have already discovered 552 pests in 1,081 intercepted shipments leading up to Mother’s Day this year, the agency says.
“Flowers are a wonderful gift for Mother’s Day, but they could also be a hiding place for dangerous pests that could harm our country,” Miami and Tampa Field Offices Director Carlos Martel said.
Prohibited agricultural items can harbor plant pests and foreign animal diseases that could seriously damage America’s crops, livestock, and the environment and hurt the U.S. economy, the agency says.
Stone fruit, apples, mangos, oranges, guavas, sopote, cherimoya and sweet limes from Mexico require a permit to bring into the U.S. Avocados from Mexico that are peeled, halved and have the seed removed are enterable if in liquid or vacuum-packed but are subject to inspection.
All travelers entering the United States are required to declare meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, soil, animals, as well as plant and animal products.
All products are subject to inspection and must be found free of pests.
Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.
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