see also: in April 2008:   U. S. Customs and Border Protection Seizes $1.3 Million Worth of Counterfeit Cigarettes   Border Patrol Launches Rhode Island Search   Border Patrol Agent Search Launches in Atlanta   Two Weeks = Two Tons of Marijuana Seized at Arizona Port of Entry   CBP Officers in Texas Find $3 Million Worth of Dope in 'Empty' Sea Container   New Jersey CBP Officers Make $4 Million Heroin Candy Bar Bust   Border Patrol Agents Locate More Than Half Ton of Marijuana ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Seattle — Three potentially destructive pest species were intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists recently on the waterfront here. Several ocean containers arriving from China were targeted by CBP for an intensive agriculture examination for potential foreign pests, specifically wood-boring insects. These insects, most notably the Asian Long horned Beetle, have frequently been intercepted in ocean cargo from Asia imported into Seattle.

The shipments, destined for an auto glass importer in Cleveland, were offloaded from the vessel Hanjin London at Seattle’s Pier 46 and examined on March 24th at a container examination station. Three different types of insect larvae were discovered in the three shipments and identified by USDA as bark beetles (Scolytidae), long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae) and wood wasps (Siricidae). All three species can pose a significant threat to hardwood trees in the U.S. The long-horned beetle has the potential to cause more damage than Dutch elm disease, chestnut blight and the gypsy moth combined if established in the U.S.

“These important pest interceptions represent the significant priority CBP places on our agriculture inspection program.” said Seattle CBP Service Area Port Director Roland Suliveras. “America’s agriculture economic interests are well served by our dedicated staff of CBP agriculture specialists.”

All three shipments were denied entry into the U.S. and ordered for immediate export.

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.