see also: in October 2007 News Releases:   Cocaine Smuggler Tries To Trick El Paso CBP Officers by Hiding Drugs in Car Body   Border Patrol Agents in Texas Seize Marijuana Worth $1 Million Hidden Under Watermelons   Fingerprint Check Allows Border Patrol to Arrest Murder Suspect   Border Patrol Texas Task Force Seizes 500 Pounds of Marijuana   CBP Officers at Mail Facility Find Marijuana in Cement Statues, Opium   Tecate, Calif. Cargo Processing Port to Resume Operations Wednesday Morning   CBP at Newark Airport Discovers Man with Fraudulent Documents, False Claim to U.S. Citizenship ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Dallas - Customs and Border Protection at the Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport intercepted one of the most invasive species of insects last week while inspecting a shipment of personal belongings from Africa. Examination revealed four immature Khapra beetles feeding on seeds. The seeds and unwanted pests were destroyed to prevent them from becoming established in the U.S.

A CBP agriculture specialist discovered the unwanted Khapra beetle while inspecting personal belongings shipped by air cargo feeding on squash seeds among the belongings. As an additional bio-security measure to ensure the pest did not find it’s way into the U.S., CBP agriculture specialists further inspected the warehouse and placed a Khapra beetle trap, supplied by USDA, in the warehouse, where the shipment had been stored.

"The Khapra beetle is a dangerous pest to American agriculture and the consumer," said CBP Area Port Director Ana Hinojosa. "Protecting American agriculture and our food supply is a critical mission of Customs and Border Protection."

Squash and similar seeds require special treatment to be imported into the United States from countries where Khapra beetle is known to occur. The Khapra beetle is not a finicky eater; it will dine on almost anything organic. Normally found in grain supplies, this little 1-3 millimeter pest will consume even natural fibers in carpets. Most countries around the world consider Trogoderma granarium or Khapra beetle, as one of the top ten most unwanted pests.

Last year, Customs and Border Protection intercepted Khapra beetle five times at the U.S. borders. Customs and Border Protection is responsible for protecting the United States from terrorist and terrorist weapons, but it also plays a vital role in protecting America’s Agriculture industry from invasive pests and disease. The Customs and Border Protection workforce includes over 2,000 agriculture specialist stationed at land, air and seaports across the country.

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 official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.