see also: in January 2009:   CBP Officers Discover 957 Pounds of Marijuana in Concrete Pipes   CBP Canine Detects $600,000 Worth of Marijuana at Douglas Port   CBP Officers Seize $80,000 of Marijuana at Naco Port of Entry   Border Patrol Stops Vehicle, Leads to Meth Seizure   CBP Officers at Hidalgo/Reynosa International Bridge Seize Fake $20’s Found during Outbound Inspection   Border Patrol Agents Rescue Woman Injured in Car Accident   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Arrest Wanted Sex Offender ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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El Paso, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection Field Operations officers and agriculture specialists performing anti-terrorism inspections at El Paso area ports of entry made a pair of significant interception of a living pests this week. Officers also seized sizeable quantities of drugs, prohibited food products, illegal immigrants and other violations during the previous seven days.

On January 21, CBP agriculture specialists at the Bridge of the Americas international crossing in El Paso were inspecting a shipment of fresh cut flowers when they discovered one living slug (pallifera costaricensis) on the plants. The slug found in the shipment is an actionable pest, meaning it poses risk to the U.S. agricultural industry. The entire shipment of flowers was destroyed by incineration. The person importing the flowers was released.

On January 19, CBP agriculture specialists at the Bridge of the Americas international crossing in El Paso were inspecting a shipment of fresh cut flowers and greenery when they discovered one living gold bug (charidotella trisignata) on the plants. The bug found in the shipment is an actionable pest, meaning it poses risk to the U.S. agricultural industry. The entire shipment was destroyed by incineration. The person importing the flowers was released.

“With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, CBP agricultural specialists will be very busy inspecting all floral imports to look for signs of insects, pests or disease,” said William Molaski, CBP El Paso port director. “Their careful attention to detail will ensure that plant disease and pests are detected and prevented from being introduced into United States where they could cause economic or environmental harm.”

In addition to this pest seizure, CBP officers and agriculture specialist working at area ports made a total of 21 agriculture seizures during the previous seven day period. Violators paid $5,200 in fines associated with the seizures but could have avoided the penalties if they had simply declared the items.

Prohibited agricultural items seized this week included pork, chorizo, ham, pork skins, raw eggs, guavas, sugar cane, avocados, apples, tangerines, oranges, sweet limes, lemons, mangos, mamey fruit, hawthorn fruit, cactus for propagation, chrysanthemums and live plants. Failure to declare prohibited food and agricultural items can result in a $300 penalty for an initial offense and $1,000 for a repeat violation. If properly declared, prohibited food items can generally be abandoned at the port of entry without consequence.

CBP officers working at area ports of entry made a total of 41 drug seizures during the previous seven days. They confiscated 3,208 pounds of marijuana in 40 busts and 26.8 pounds of cocaine in one additional seizure.

CBP officers recorded 111 immigration violations at area ports this week. CBP officers nabbed 50 intended immigrants, which was the largest group. In these cases, individuals will use a legally issued border-crossing card (laser visa) to live or work in the U.S., which is not authorized. They also lose their documents and are generally returned to Mexico. Area CBP officers also identified 61 people who were imposters, made false claims to U.S. citizenship or attempted to enter with counterfeit or altered documents. The group also included those attempting to enter without inspection and people who stayed in the U.S. longer than their visa permitted.

CBP officers working at area ports also recorded 35 fugitive apprehensions this week. Thorough exams generated positive matches for people who were wanted for a variety of offenses. CBP officers working at El Paso area ports also seized $5,000 in smuggled currency and prohibited prescription drugs. 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.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.