A woman’s attempt to cross the US-Mexico border in Texas took an unexpected turn this week when she was caught with more than 700 pounds of illegal bologna in her car. The 43-year-old, an American citizen, was traveling through the Presidio port of entry on a Monday afternoon when she declared only a cooked meal to officials during the routine inspection. However, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents soon discovered her declaration was far from complete.
According to CBP, specialists decided to inspect the vehicle further, suspicious of her claim. What they found was astonishing – several suitcases filled with 40 rolls of Mexican bologna, totaling a whopping 748 pounds. This type of bologna, a prohibited meat, is banned in the U.S. due to concerns about its potential to harm the pork industry.
“The concern with pork products is that they have the potential to introduce foreign animal diseases that can have devastating effects on the U.S. economy and to our agriculture industry,” said CBP Presidio Port Director Benito Reyes, Jr. in a statement.
After the discovery, the meat was immediately confiscated and destroyed to prevent any risk of contamination. But the inspection didn’t end there. As agents continued their search of the vehicle, they uncovered more than just bologna. Hidden inside various parts of the car were 280 boxes of undeclared prescription drugs and over $7,600 in concealed cash.
Officials acted swiftly, seizing the vehicle and issuing the woman a civil penalty of $1,000 for her failed attempt to smuggle the prohibited items into the country.
“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,” Reyes cautioned.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by border authorities as they work to protect U.S. agriculture and public safety from potentially harmful imports. It also serves as a reminder to travelers about the importance of properly declaring all goods when crossing international borders. What started as a routine inspection quickly turned into a large-scale smuggling bust, revealing both prohibited food items and concealed drugs.
While the smuggled bologna might seem amusing at first, the potential threat it poses to the pork industry is no joke. Strict regulations are in place to ensure that foreign animal diseases don’t devastate the nation’s livestock, and cases like this show how essential these inspections are.
The woman’s attempt to bring in these items has now cost her much more than a few rolls of bologna – with the seized cash, prescription drugs, and the civil fine all adding up to a heavy penalty for her failed smuggling operation.
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