The Chickens That Didn’t Cross the Road in Laredo
Federal agents foiled plans for 47 roosters and hens that tried to cross the U.S. border at the Laredo Port of Entry on Nov. 12.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and agriculture specialists intercepted a large clutch of live poultry hidden throughout a vehicle. These live birds were hidden inside the purse of the passenger in addition to being concealed underneath the seats and floor mats, and inside the glove compartment and trunk of the vehicle.
A total of 47 fighting roosters and hens were discovered in this one enforcement action at the Gateway to the Americas Bridge, CBP reports.
“This is a large quantity of live animals, a significant violation of federal agriculture law uncovered by our frontline CBP officers and agriculture specialists and it resulted in a fine, the revocation of the driver’s SENTRI card and a vehicle seizure,” Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry, said in a release. “We remind the traveling public that utilization of SENTRI is a privilege and violation of federal law revokes those privileges.”
The incident occurred when a U.S. citizen made entry via the SENTRI lane and was referred for inspection by CBP officers. At secondary, CBP officers discovered live poultry in stockings under the front seats. Because it was an agricultural finding, CBP agriculture specialists were called in to assist.
Upon the finding of these 47 birds, a $500 penalty was issued by a CBP agriculture specialist for attempting to import prohibited agriculture items while being a SENTRI card holder.
CBP reports the SENTRI card was picked up and turned in to the SENTRI Enrollment Center. The vehicle was then seized by CBP under 19 USC 1595 and the live poultry were transferred over to USDA Veterinary Services.
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regulations prohibit live birds, fresh eggs, and raw poultry from Mexico as Mexico is affected with Newcastle Disease and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). These diseases are serious concerns for poultry and are highly contagious. Attempting to bring in these prohibited items would lead to traveler delays and may result in a fine ranging from $300 to $1,000, CBP reminds.
CBP’s commitment to protect U.S. borders is of great importance to the U.S. livestock industry. Keeping the deadly disease of swine, African swine fever (ASF), out of U.S. borders is of significant concern to the pork industry as the first cases of this virus were recently discovered in the Western Hemisphere in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
More from Farm Journal's PORK:
Close All the Windows to Keep ASF Out
ASF in the Western Hemisphere: What’s Different 40 Years Later?
It's Time to Batten Down the Hatches, Pork Industry Experts Say
Learn more about what the industry is doing to prevent ASF from entering the country.
