U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations Agriculture Specialists working at the Columbus port of entry seized 22 rolls of Mexican bologna on Sunday, February 7. Bologna is a prohibited product because it is made from pork and has the potential for introducing foreign animal diseases to the U.S. pork industry.
The seizure was made at 8 a.m. when a 2019 Nissan Rogue being driven by a 49-year-old legal permanent resident from Albuquerque entered the port from Mexico. CBP officers performing an inspection spotted multiple red rolls in the trunk/hatchback area of the vehicle. Additional rolls were found hidden inside luggage.
The weight of the contraband meat was 194 pounds. The bologna was seized and destroyed and the driver was assessed a $500 civil penalty.
“It is important that travelers understand they should declare all items they are transporting from abroad to avoid fines and penalties. A properly declared prohibited item can be abandoned at the port without consequence,” said CBP Columbus Port Director Tony Hall.
CBP has been entrusted with enforcing hundreds of laws for 40 other government agencies, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These agencies require that unsafe items are not allowed to enter the United States. CBP officers are always at ports of entry and assume the responsibility of protecting America from all threats.
While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all categories.
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