At the Paso Del Norte and Ysleta border crossings in El Paso, agricultural specialists confiscated a significant amount of prohibited pork bologna on two different occasions.
On January 13, at the Paso Del Norte border crossing, the specialists confiscated fifty-five pounds of bologna from a resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He underwent a secondary inspection check after the driver gave a negative declaration of fruits, vegetables, and meat products.
Five rolls of undeclared Mexican bologna were found covered by a bag of chips, under the seats and in the trunk compartment of the SUV. He intended to resell the bologna for nearly double the price in the United States versus what it is sold for in Mexico.
The Director of Field of Operations for the U.S Customs and Border Protection, Hector A. Mancha, explained that the ban is because of the possible risks that the meat presents. In a statement, he said, “Pork products have the potential to introduce foreign animal diseases that can have devastating effects to the U.S. economy and to our agriculture industry. We ask travelers to declare any items acquired abroad so we can prevent the introduction of potentially harmful products.”
In the second incident at the Ysleta border crossing on January 21, a resident of Pueblo West, Colorado attempted to smuggle nineteen rolls of pork bologna into the U.S. During her vehicle inspection, she was also sent for a secondary review. Officials located 188 pounds of the contraband meat under the rear back seat, inside duvet cover liners, and luggage.
It is unknown whether she planned to sell the bologna or not.
In total, 243 pounds of bologna were seized.
Both persons received civil penalties of $1,000 for failure to declare commercial quantities of bologna. The bologna was seized and destroyed by CBP per USDA regulations.
