see also: in December 2008:   CBP Lists Top 10 Enforcement Events of 2008   CBP Seizes $200K in Undeclared Currency; Arrest 1 at Texas Port   Marfa Sector Agents Apprehend Murder Suspect   San Ysidro Port Modernization Deployment Temporarily Reduces Lanes   Border Patrol Agents Assist in Locating Distressed Individual   CBP Officers Stop Man at Michigan Border Crossing Wanted for Aggravated Sexual Assault   Holiday Surprise; CBP Unwraps 312 Pounds of Khat in December ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Baltimore – This is no tacky Japanese science fiction film with costumed actors playing 50-foot insect monsters. Intercepting insect pests is serious business, especially if you’re a farmer or a florist, and Baltimore Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists claim the distinction of catching two firsts recently.

CBP agriculture specialists recently confirmed that a weevil interception in Baltimore on December 15, was the first ever interception of an Aulacobaris coerulescens in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s pest identifier database. The weevil was detected in a shipping container of Italian ceramic tiles that arrived to the Baltimore seaport. It is described as a quarantine significant pest that has the potential to cause extensive economical damage to plant and horticultural industries.

Additionally, the USDA identifier database confirmed that a second pest interception on December 15, was the first discovery of a Paromius seed bug in the CBP Baltimore Field Office area. The Baltimore Field Office covers seaports and airports in Southern New Jersey, most of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Northern Virginia. The Paromius seed bug was also detected in a shipment of Italian ceramic tiles.

“CBP agriculture specialists take their jobs of protecting American agriculture very seriously and each pest interception is a little victory of sorts,” said James Swanson, CBP Port Director for the Port of Baltimore. “But a first in nation discovery brings equal parts celebration and concern. Just like any scientist or explorer, it’s always a career milestone to be the first CBP agriculture specialist to discover something unique, but at the same time we realize that we have to remain vigilant in order to prevent these types of foreign plant pests from being introduced into the United States.”

CBP issued an Emergency Action Notification and the shipments were fumigated to eradicate further threat.

CBP agricultural specialists have extensive training and experience in the biological sciences and agricultural inspection. On a typical day, they inspect tens of thousands of international air passengers, and air and sea cargoes nationally being imported to the United States and seize 4,125 prohibited meat, plant materials or animal products, including 435 insect pests.

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.