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 ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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El Paso, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working outbound operations at the El Paso port of entry intercepted a shipment of 293 full bird ostrich skins valued at $58,600.

On Wednesday, at about 1 p.m., CBP officers came in contact with a 1997 Ford F-250 driven by a 55-year-old male from Juarez, Chihuahua. The truck was exiting the U.S. via the Bridge of the Americas border crossing. CBP officers asked the driver to declare everything he was exporting from the U.S. The driver reported only mannequins.

CBP officers noticed merchandise in the back of the truck, so the vehicle was referred to secondary for further inspection. CBP officers discovered 293 full bird ostrich skins and 18 handbags in the bed of the truck. The handbags were labeled Gucci, Chanel, and Prada.

“CBP’s responsibility is not only the import of merchandise but also exports,” said William Molaksi, acting El Paso port director for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “There are laws and regulations the exporter must follow in order to avoid penalties and possibly the detention and seizure of merchandise.”

The driver was interviewed by CBP officers and released. The ostrich skins were seized for violation of U.S. laws involving Federal Trade Regulations, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Protection Lacey and Endangered Species Acts. The U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife took custody of the ostrich skins. The handbags were detained as possible counterfeits, trademark and copyright violations. Final disposition of the handbags will be determined at a later date.

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.