see also: in August 2008:   CBP in New York Apprehends Suspected Interpol Fugitive   Louisville CBP Finds Heroin in Woman’s Suit   CBP Officers Nab More than $1 Million in Narcotics in 48-hour Period   Philadelphia CBP Seizes $650,000 in Fake Bank Checks   CBP on a Roll Seizing Fake Handbags, Footwear Again in California   Calexico Downtown Port Officers Intercept $100K Narcotic Smuggling Attempt   CBP Outbound Inspection Yields 293 Unreported Ostrich Skins ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Atlanta - While bee smuggling attempts are uncommon, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta have made some surprising finds in recent days – like a passenger arriving from Moldova in transit to Sacramento, Calif., with undeclared, used beekeeping equipment and pesticides (acaricides) ampules of Bipin and Amitra.

Scientists suspect harmful, sometimes lethal, invasive pests are introduced into the U.S. by imported honey combs; unclean, often used beekeeping equipment; or even the attempted smuggling of queen bees. To prevent the introduction of bee diseases and pests, commodities that present a significant quarantine risk such as used beekeeping equipment and live bees may only be imported if they meet stringent health requirements, are properly declared, and are accompanied by an export certificate from the appropriate regulatory agency in the country of origin.

CBP agriculture specialists worked in close consultation with local Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Agriculture entomologists who determined these chemicals were not approved for use on honey bees in this country and were therefore seized by CBP.

Worldwide, honeybee pollination is valued at between $30 billion and $91 billion USD a year while U.S. pollinating bees are worth $18 billion a year. U.S. beekeepers face new potential threats from a myriad of multinational invasive species including the recent rise of Colony Collapse Disorder, apparently little known before this year. CCD is said to follow a unique pattern where bees seem to desert their hive or forget to return home from their foraging runs.

“CBP agriculture specialists thwarted a potential agro/biological threat and protected American agriculture by eliminating additional opportunities contributing to CCD and the exposure to unlawful pesticides,” said Robert C. Gomez, CBP director field operations for the Atlanta Field Office. “These intercepts highlight the importance CBP places on our agriculture inspection program and the skillful observations by our agriculture specialists and our partnership with USDA’s Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance. USDA SITC officers have the capability to further monitor any developing enforcement in California that might be associated with this incident,” Gomez added.

CBP employs more than 2,000 agriculture specialists who must meet strict educational requirements and receive intensive, scientific-based training developed and administered jointly by USDA and CBP.

Agriculture specialists protect the United States from the threat of invasive pests and diseases with inspection, detection and prevention efforts designed to keep prohibited agricultural items from entering the country.

These items, whether in commercial cargo or with a person entering the United States, could cause serious damage to America’s crops, livestock, and the environment. In fiscal year 2007, CBP agriculture specialists intercepted almost 4,300 prohibited meat, plant materials or animal products each day, including 164 actionable agricultural pests at ports of entry.

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.