Federal agents seized 748 lb. of Mexican bologna at the Presidio, Texas, port of entry. The prohibited meat arrived in a vehicle from Mexico. During the search, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers also discovered prescription medications while searching that same vehicle.
“We stress that it is important that travelers educate themselves on what products are allowed to be legally entered from abroad. And even if they believe an item is allowed travelers should still declare all items they are transporting to the U.S. to avoid fines and penalties,” CBP Presidio Port Director Benito Reyes, Jr. said in a release. “The concern with pork products is that they have the potential to introduce foreign animal diseases that can have devastating effects to the U.S. economy and to our agriculture industry.”
The seizure took place at 4 p.m. when a 43-year-old female, U.S. citizen driving a 2023 GMC Yukon arrived from Mexico. The driver declared a cooked meal during the primary inspection.
Because of this, CBP agriculture specialists initiated a secondary exam during which they removed several suitcases from the vehicle.
“The suitcases seemed heavier than normal,” CBP reports. “The agriculture specialists opened one suitcase and found numerous rolls of Mexican bologna inside. A total of 40 rolls were found in the suitcases.”
Mexican bologna is prohibited because it is made from pork and has the potential for introducing foreign animal diseases to the U.S. pork industry.
CBP agriculture specialists continued their exam and located hundreds of boxes of undeclared medication hidden inside various panels of the vehicle including Tramadol, which is a schedule IV controlled substance. Other medications removed from the vehicle included Fentermina, Alprazolam, Clonazapam, Diazapam, Farmapram, Ampigran, Sulfamethoxazole and more, the release said.
In addition to the driver being issued a $1,000 civil penalty, the bologna was seized and destroyed by CBP agriculture specialists per USDA regulations. The medication was also seized. CBP officers also seized the vehicle and more than $7,600 in concealed currency.
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