see also: in June 2004:   Department Of Homeland Security Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Operating in Arizona to Support Border Security   U.S. Customs And Border Protection Announces Hellenic Republic Joins Container Security Initiative   CBP Officers Seize Largest Heroin Load this Year at San Ysidro   4,421 Pounds Of Marijuana Seized By U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers in El Paso   Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge Announces New Nationwide Port Security Improvements   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Returns Pre-Columbian Artifacts to Guatemala ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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SAN DIEGO -- With the Fourth of July holiday approaching, many people feel the celebration won't be complete without fireworks.

But since the importation of any fireworks from Mexico is restricted by federal laws, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials say they will step up their enforcement efforts at the border over the next several weeks to ensure consumers enjoy a "safe and sane" holiday.

CBP officers at land border stations in San Diego County have confiscated over 5,500 pieces of fireworks since October 1, when the current federal fiscal year began.

Officers made about 80 percent of the seizures at the busy San Ysidro port of entry where 130,000 travelers enter the U.S. daily. Officers at the nearby Otay Mesa border station seized about 18 percent of the total and officers at the Tecate facility seized the remainder. Over 30 percent of the total at the three ports was seized during the first three weeks of this month.

CBP officers at the three ports of entry seized almost 12,000 pieces of illegal fireworks during fiscal year 2003. Almost 70 percent of last year's total was seized by officers during June and July.

"By any measure, these number tells us that too many travelers still do not understand that it is illegal to cross the border with these dangerous imported devices," said Adele Fasano, director of field operations for CBP in San Diego. "These are not toys. Imported fireworks can be dangerous because of the fire hazard and irregularities in manufacturing. Each year our officers confiscate thousands of pieces of fireworks and turn them over to the Sheriff's bomb unit for disposal."

Realizing that some border travelers may be tempted to purchase fireworks in Mexico during the weeks leading up to the Fourth of July, Fasano said CBP wants to warn residents now so they can avoid risk of possible injury as well as the financial loss caused by confiscation of the fireworks as well as possible civil or criminal penalties.

"When people innocently arrive at the border with fireworks and properly declare them, we are required to confiscate the merchandise, but without penalty," she said. "Those who try to circumvent the law face stern monetary penalties. We've even had people try to smuggle fireworks under the hood of their vehicles, which can be a very dangerous situation."

Fasano said travelers who attempt to smuggle illegal fireworks into the country face penalties ranging from confiscation of the contraband to seizure of the transporting vehicle and monetary fines equal to the U.S. dollar value of the fireworks. In addition, arrest and prosecution are possible in the more egregious cases, she said.

"We encourage people to take advantage of the many licensed fireworks displays in San Diego rather than a do-it-yourself display," Fasano said. "Public displays offer a larger show and are safer for all involved."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the protection of the nation's borders. CBP unified Customs, Immigration and Agricultural inspectors and the Border Patrol into one border agency for the United States.