US border sees spike in egg smuggling as prices soar amid bird flu outbreak

Express Tribune

21-03-2025

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While US President Donald Trump continues to focus on curbing the flow of fentanyl into the country, border officials have been increasingly seizing a more unexpected item eggs.
Data released by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shows a staggering 116% increase in egg-related seizures during the first two months of 2025. In January and February alone, CBP recorded 3,254 seizures involving eggs, compared to 1,508 in the same period last year.
The sharp rise comes amid surging egg prices in the United States, driven by a severe bird flu outbreak that has impacted the laying hen population and disrupted supplies. Although wholesale egg prices are beginning to fall, the USDA reports that the decline has yet to reach store shelves.
According to the latest Consumer Price Index, the average cost for a dozen Grade A eggs in US cities was $5.90 in February—roughly $8.40 Canadian—marking a 10.4% increase from a year ago and surpassing January's record-high price of $4.95 US.
By comparison, a dozen large white eggs at Walmart in Windsor, Ontario, currently costs about $3.93 Cdn, while across the border in Michigan, the same carton sells for about $8.50 Cdn, fueling cross-border attempts to bring in cheaper eggs.
At the Detroit border crossing, where the bulk of egg smuggling from Canada occurs, seizures rose by 36% in the 2025 fiscal year compared to the same period in 2024. Overall, egg-related detentions have also increased by 36% at all US ports of entry from October 2024 to February 2025, according to CBP.
While CBP notes that most egg seizures involve travelers who voluntarily declare the items, officials continue to warn against bringing raw eggs across the border. Earlier this year, CBP issued at least two public alerts targeting egg smuggling from Mexico. The San Diego Field Office reported a 158% rise in egg interceptions since fiscal year 2024, while agents in El Paso, Texas, have stopped at least 90 individuals from bringing raw eggs into the country since January.
Fentanyl seizures fall
Meanwhile, CBP has reported a notable decrease in fentanyl seizures. In January and February 2025, fentanyl was intercepted 134 times, down 32% from 197 seizures during the same period last year.
Of those seizures, only nine occurred at the northern border with Canada, accounting for 0.53 kilograms of the 740 kilograms of fentanyl seized overall so far this year. In 2024, approximately 19.5 kilograms were confiscated at the northern border, compared to 9,570 kilograms seized at the southwestern border.
CBP emphasizes that the egg seizure data does not include items successfully smuggled across the border without detection. However, the rise in reported interceptions highlights a growing effort to enforce agricultural regulations as food inflation continues to bite American consumers.
Despite Trump's promise to bring down egg prices on his first day back in office, prices rose 59% year-on-year in February—the first full month of his administration—underscoring the challenge posed by supply chain disruptions and ongoing outbreaks of avian flu.
As the government focuses on both security and affordability, CBP is now tasked with battling both illicit drug trafficking and an unexpected black market for breakfast staples.