EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A 52-year-old man was caught smuggling several large rolls of prohibited pork bologna for the second time on Friday at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry in Downtown El Paso.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection says just after 2 a.m. on Friday, a 52-year-old man from Albuquerque arrived at the crossing through the vehicle lanes and did not declare any fruits, vegetables, or meat products.
The man was referred for a secondary inspection, where a CBP dog alerted to the rear cargo area of the vehicle.
Agriculture specialists then located 22 rolls of bologna hidden within the rear of the vehicle. Specialists also discovered 60 undeclared Tramadol tablets in the center console of the vehicle.
The man was issued a $1,000 promissory note for the prescription medication violation as Tramadol is a controlled substance.
The man could also face a penalty of up to $10,000 if he’s found guilty. He was also caught attempting to smuggle 55 rolls of bologna from Mexico to the U.S. in January at the El Paso port of entry and was assessed a civil penalty, CBP said.
The bologna was seized and destroyed during both instances by CBP per USDA regulations.
The bologna smuggling case is being referred to USDA Investigative and Enforcement Services which enforce alleged violations related to animal and plant issues.
CBP says that undeclared prohibited agriculture items will be confiscated and can result in the issuance of a civil penalty for failure to declare.
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