see also: in February 2007 News Releases:   Border Officers Respond To Medical Emergency   Federal Authorities Seize Narcotics Valued at More Than $15 Million in Caribbean   Spring Breakers: Get Your Passports Now   CBP Seizes 403 Pounds of Undeclared Cheese, Two Vehicles at Colombia-Solidarity Bridge   U.S.-Canada Trusted Air Traveler Program Expands   CBP Border Patrol Agents Rescue 56 Aliens from Truck   ACE Mandated for E-manifest Filing at Border Ports in Michigan and New York ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers on the web:   University of Florida Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences   European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization   Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ)

contacts for this news release

Nogales, Ariz. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Agriculture Specialists at the Nogales port of entry continue their efforts to protect the American agriculture industry and our food supply, quietly working to keep pests and diseases out of the country. The beginning of this year has proven to be a prime example of their work and the purpose behind what they do.

From January 1 through January 19, during the heavy travel season for people returning to the U.S. after visiting family in Mexico for the holidays, CBP Agriculture Specialists at the ports of entry in Nogales stopped 169 smuggling attempts by people trying to sneak prohibited agricultural items into the country. 3,068 plants items, 874 animal products, 83 items with soil, and nine birds were seized. Penalties in the total amount $41,125 were issued against violators.

During subsequent inspection of the seized items, CBP Agriculture Specialists found 58 pests or plant diseases, including several that could potentially have resulted in severe infestation problems in the United States.

One of the pests found is the Mexican Fruit Fly (anastrepha ludens), which attacks a variety of fruits and can be devastating to the citrus industries in areas such as California and Florida. Rare instances of infestation by this pest in the U.S. have cost millions of dollars to eradicate and caused millions of dollars in damage. More information on the Mexican Fruit Fly can be found on the California Department of Food and Agriculture and University of Florida Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences web sections. ( University of Florida Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences )

One of the diseases discovered is Chrysanthemum White Rust (puccinia horiana), which is of great concern to the floral and landscaping industry. Discovery, prevention, and eradication of this disease are priorities for the US Department of Agriculture. More information on this disease can be found on the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization and Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) web section. ( European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization ) ( Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) )

The most commonly discovered items included oranges, tangerines, guavas, camote, plants, and pork products, but other items included apples, avocados, clementines, coconuts, mangoes, manzano peppers, passion fruit, sugarcane, sweet limes, cherimoya,granadillos, sapote, cactus, fruit tree seedlings, geraniums, chicken heads, eggs (chicken, quail, and duck), and pork products (chorizo, ham, grease/lard, and pickled pork skins).

Some of the more common concealment methods included inside purses, inside cardboard boxes, under seats, beneath mattresses, wrapped in dirty clothing, wrapped in newspapers, and hidden inside luggage or under other food items. Agriculture Specialists also stopped several attempts to sneak raw prohibited fruits/vegetables into the US by hiding them inside containers of similar cooked foods.

The Office of Field Operations is responsible for operations at the ports of entry. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers’ primary mission is anti-terrorism; they screen all people, vehicles, and goods entering the United States, while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel into and out of the United States. Their mission also includes carrying out traditional border-related responsibilities, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration law, and protecting the nation’s food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.

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.