Hundreds of pounds of Mexican bologna, which could carry foreign animal diseases, were seized at an El Paso port of entry this week.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and agriculture specialists seized 23 rolls of Mexican bologna at about 7 a.m. Wednesday at the Paso Del Norte international crossing, customs officials said.
A woman, whose name was not released, attempted to drive across the bridge and allegedly failed to declare that she was carrying meat products, officials said.
The woman’s vehicle was selected for secondary inspection, during which she then allegedly admitted to officers that she had “salchicha,” Spanish for bologna, in the car.
CBP agriculture specialists found 227 pounds of the bologna under the floor mats of the car, officials said.
The Mexican bologna was seized and later destroyed by officers.
The woman was fined $1,000.
It is illegal to bring Mexican bologna into the U.S. because “it is made from pork and has the potential for introducing foreign animal diseases to the U.S. pork industry,” officials said.
“CBP is entrusted with enforcing hundreds of laws for dozens other government agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and others,” CBP El Paso Port Director Beverly Good said in a statement. “These agencies require that unsafe items are not allowed to enter the United States. CBP officers are always on duty at our ports of entry and assume the responsibility of protecting America from all threats.”
Aaron Martinez may be reached at 546-6249; aamartinez@elpasotimes.com; @AMartinez31 on Twitter.
