see also: in July 2007 News Releases:   CBP Air and Marine Acquires Helicopters for Border Security Mission   CBP Officers At El Paso Port Nab 50 Pounds Of Cocaine; Two Juveniles Taken Into Custody   CBP Border Patrol Agent Dies In the Line of Duty   Hong Kong to Scan U.S.-Bound Goods for Radiation as Part of Secure Freight Initiative   Border Patrol Assists in Third Canal Rescue in a Week   CBP Officers Apprehend Fugitive Wanted For Murder, Rape, Burglary   Operation Streamline Nets 1,200-Plus Prosecutions in Arizona ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers on the web:   Invasive.org   Aphis.USDA.gov

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Nogales, Ariz. – What began as two routine agriculture inspections by Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists at the Mariposa port of entry in Nogales, Ariz. Monday and Tuesday turned into two significant interceptions when the CBP officers discovered and stopped an attempt to smuggle exotic birds into the United States and later discovered eight Mexican Fruit Fly larvae inside mangoes during another failed smuggling attempt.

Just before 9:30 a.m. July 2, CBP officers screening vehicles and people entering the country from Mexico referred a 60-year-old California man driving a Chevy SUV for an agriculture inspection. After asking the driver about the contents of the vehicle and receiving a negative response from him, CBP agriculture specialists proceeded to inspect the vehicle and contents.

They may look like a plate full of mouth-watering mangoes...

During the inspection, they discovered two Amazon parrots, two parakeets, two finches, two Monk parakeets, and two chickens hidden in birdcages and cardboard boxes under piles of clothing. The birds were all seized and turned over to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Veterinary services. The driver was penalized $300 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection for the agriculture violation and $1,025 by U.S. Fish and Wildlife.

...but a look under a microscope by a CBP agriculture specialist revealed dangerous fruit fly larvae.

The next day, at a little after 8 a.m., CBP officers referred a 48-year-old man from Oregon and his vehicle for agriculture inspection. CBP agriculture specialists interviewed the man who stated that he had nothing in his vehicle. During the vehicle inspection, however, the agriculture specialists discovered fresh nanches, hog plums, and 103 mangoes hidden inside bags of gifts and candies. As a result of his failure to declare the agriculture items, the driver was penalized $300 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

After seizing the mangoes, agriculture specialists cut them apart, finding eight Mexican Fruit Fly larvae, a pest that can have a devastating effect on the nation’s agriculture industry, food supply, and forestry if introduced into the country.

Since the beginning of the fiscal year, which began October 1, 2006, CBP Agriculture Specialists at the Nogales port of entry have discovered 58 birds being smuggled into the United States and intercepted 32 significant pests, including the Mexican Fruit Fly larvae.

More information on fruit flies. ( Invasive.org ) ( Aphis.USDA.gov )

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.