Texas border patrol stops 90+ people smuggling eggs from Mexico as prices soar
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in Texas have intercepted at least 90 people and issued 16 civil penalties this year for attempting to smuggle eggs from Mexico, resulting in nearly $4,000 in fines.
Bringing fresh eggs, raw chicken, unprocessed avian products or live birds into the U.S. is illegal, the agency said in a news release Friday. The agency urged travelers to declare all agricultural products to CBP officers and agriculture specialists to avoid fines and penalties.
'The failure to declare may lead to potential fines and penalties,' the agency warned.
The rise in egg smuggling aligns with the shortage of eggs as well as soaring U.S. egg prices, which have steadily increased since 2022 due to avian flu outbreaks.
According to officials, raw egg imports from Mexico are banned for similar reasons over health concerns related to avian flu.
An additional concern about raw eggs being imported from Mexico include the potential transmission of Virulent Newcastle disease or VND, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said.
The disease can cause severe neurologic, respiratory and gastrointestinal issues. It's fatal in birds and is 'one of the most serious diseases of chickens worldwide,' according to the University of California, Davis or UC Davis.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas border patrol stops 90+ people smuggling eggs from Mexico
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