Latest news with #SidneyAki
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
CBP releases drug seizures total in May
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection from the San Diego Field Office seized over $17 million worth of narcotics last month. In 115 separate incidents, CBP officers captured 6,298 pounds of methamphetamine, 1,267 pounds of cocaine, 256 pounds of fentanyl and 33 pounds of heroin. One of the major seizures occurred on May 29 at the Calexico East Cargo Facility, where a tractor-trailer was found to have a total of 100 packages of cocaine from inside the air tanks weighing 245.28 pounds. Carlsbad police seize drugs, cash and car in major narcotics operation 'Targeting techniques are critical to our success,' said San Diego Director of Field Operations Sidney K. Aki. 'This seizure demonstrates the power of precision targeting and how intelligence driven enforcement is essential in the fight against organized crime.' The San Diego Field Office advises the public to report suspicious activity to ensure safer communities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man stuffed 6 parrots in his boots in bizarre border smuggling attempt, officials say
A man was caught attempting to smuggle parrots into California after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers noticed "unusual clothing bulges" around his ankles and discovered six birds stuffed into his boots, authorities said. The bizarre incident happened April 30, when Customs and Border Patrol Agents pulled aside a 51-year-old man applying for admission to the United States from Mexico at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. An officer spotted the misshapen lumps around the man's feet after asking him to step outside his vehicle. When they patted him down, they discovered the undeclared birds hidden in his boots. They found six additional parrots in his car, including two that were dead, according to the CBP. Read more: Threatened in their homeland, feral Mexican parrots thrive on L.A.'s exotic landscaping "The smuggling of birds is extremely dangerous," Sidney Aki, director of CBP San Diego field operations, said in a statement. "Birds can also be hosts for a variety of diseases that can threaten native wildlife and U.S. agricultural industries, potentially causing widespread economic consequences." This is not the only recent livestock smuggling attempt thwarted at a U.S.-Mexico border crossing in California. On May 4, a 26-year-old-man applying for admission to the United States at the San Ysidro Port of Entry was caught attempting to smuggle 16 live parakeets and three live chickens, officials said. CBP officers saw a blanket moving inside the man's car and discovered the animals in two cages underneath it, authorities said. Last March, officers found 21 parrots and a keel-billed toucan while searching a sedan at the U.S.-Mexico border crossing in Tecate, according to CBP. Border Patrol agents detained the drivers and passengers in the two recent suspected smuggling attempts and turned them over to Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services for further investigation. The confiscated animals are under quarantine by U.S. Department of Agriculture Veterinary Services to ensure they are not carrying any avian diseases such as bird flu. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Eggs have gotten so expensive, Americans are smuggling them in from Mexico
Desperate Americans are smuggling eggs into the US from Mexico and Canada amid a surge in prices. Rates of egg smuggling have skyrocketed in recent months at the US' borders as prices spike following multiple bird flu outbreaks. US customs and border protection (CBP) said it has recorded a 158 per cent rise in egg smuggling interceptions at its San Diego field office in California since last year. At the El Paso border station in Texas, agents identified more than 90 people 'attempting to import raw eggs from Mexico' between January and February this year. Likewise, the National Post reports that officials at the Detroit-Windsor crossing at the Canadian border have seen a 36 per cent increase in 'interceptions of eggs' compared to last year. Overall, from October to February, CBP recorded a 29 per cent rise in smuggled eggs at US ports of entry. Poultry and egg prices have soared as millions of birds are culled following the biggest avian flu outbreak in a decade. In February, thieves stole 100,000 organic eggs from a business in Pennsylvania – valued at some $40,000 – a crime police suggested was triggered by rising costs. A series of restaurant chains, including Waffle House and Denny's, have instituted an egg surcharge in response to national shortages and price increases. Egg prices rose 13.8 per cent in January following an 8.4 per cent rise in December, according to the US department of agriculture. It predicts that costs will increase by 41 per cent this year. According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, Canada exported $44 million worth of eggs to the US in 2023, while Mexico exported $1.54 million. Exports from both countries are now subject to a 25 per cent tariff imposed by Donald Trump on Tuesday. CBP does not class most of the eggs brought into the country as 'smuggling' because they are usually surrendered freely without consequence. 'It is critical that we keep our travelling public informed to safeguard our agricultural industry while continuing to facilitate legitimate trade and travel,' said Sidney Aki, CBP's field operations director in San Diego. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Yahoo
CBP: Travelers can't bring Mexican eggs into United States
Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Bringing raw eggs from Mexico into the United States could trigger fines for travelers and endanger agriculture, Customs and Border Protection officials said Thursday. The CBP's San Diego Field Office has reported a 158% increase in interceptions of raw eggs illegally brought from Mexico into the United States since the 2024 fiscal year, according to a CBP news release. The unlawful transportation of Mexican eggs into the United States could endanger U.S. agriculture, increase diseases risks and trigger fines for any offenders. "It is critical that we keep our traveling public informed to safeguard out agricultural industry while continuing to facilitate legitimate trade and travel," said Sidney Aki, CBP director of field operations in San Diego. Egg prices have skyrocketed amid the bird flu that has decimated egg-laying populations and forced the deaths of entire flocks in many of the nation's largest egg-producing states. Current wholesale prices for eggs range from about $8 to more than $9 per dozen for large white eggs, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The bird flu outbreak is the worst on record and could be made worse by illegally transporting raw egg from Mexico into the United States. The CBP says travelers must declare all agricultural products when entering the United States and could be fined up to $10,000 if they don't. Travelers are barred from bringing fresh eggs, raw chicken and live birds from Mexico into the United States. The CBP website lists agricultural products that travelers can bring into the nation. U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Wednesday announced a five-point plan to combat the bird flu and lower the high price of eggs in the United States. The plan calls for a $1 billion federal investment to counteract the bird flu and stabilize egg prices with the goal of lowering the cost within six months. The bird flu outbreak began in 2022 and has resulted in the deaths of an estimated 166 million chickens, many of which were intentionally killed. The bird flu also has infected nearly 70 people and about 1,000 dairy herds and has claimed at least one person's life.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Yahoo
Why Border Officials Are Seizing More Eggs Than Ever
United States Customs and Border Protection officers have been intercepting egg smugglers at a higher-than-normal rate. Due to a massive egg shortage in the United States, linked to the rise in bird flu cases at farms nationwide, border agents have seen an increase in people attempting to bring eggs across the border — often cracking under pressure along the way — particularly at the country's southern border with Mexico. According to a news release from the agency, more than 90 people attempted to bring eggs across the border in the El Paso area in January alone, redefining the notion of free-range eggs. Sidney Aki, director of field operations for the San Diego office, posted on X that the office 'has noticed an increase in the number of eggs intercepted at our ports of entry' recently. Related: Are People Actually Hatching Their Eggs From Trader Joe's? The agency reports a 29% rise in attempts to bring eggs — a banned item alongside poultry, meat, vegetables, and fruit — into the U.S. from Mexico between October 2024 and February 2025, compared to the same period the previous year. 'As a reminder, raw eggs are prohibited entry from Mexico into the U.S.,' Aki states. 'CBP encourages travelers to declare all agriculture items to avoid penalties.' While most cases involve residents trying to avoid high egg prices in the U.S. by purchasing cheaper options in Mexico, some individuals may knowingly bypass regulations and smuggle the eggs across the border. Penalties for failure to declare can be steep, reaching up to $10,000 depending on the circumstances. Non-commercial civil penalties for a first-time offense can be as high as $1,000. In January, CBP agricultural specialists in El Paso issued 16 civil penalties totaling nearly $4,000, all linked to smuggling prohibited agricultural and food products, including raw eggs. 'Importation of raw/fresh eggs into the United States is generally prohibited due to concerns about diseases such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and Virulent Newcastle disease (ND),' the agency states. 'Travelers are prohibited from bringing in fresh eggs, raw chicken, unprocessed avian products, and live birds into the United States.' Related: Is It Safe to Eat Eggs During a Bird Flu Outbreak? Here's What to Know As the avian flu epidemic continues to devastate chicken populations, American farms are losing significant numbers of birds. A report from the University of Minnesota indicates that more than 156 million birds have been lost since the outbreak began in 2022. Bernt Nelson, an economist for the Farm Bureau, says that 43 million birds were lost in January and February of this year alone — nearly 25% of all birds affected by the outbreak. The decline in chickens has driven up egg prices due to supply-and-demand pressures. In an effort to combat the shortage, the U.S. and Turkey have announced a plan to import over 16,000 tons of eggs from Turkey through July. Unlike the eggs being smuggled across the border, these government-sanctioned imports are legally approved to help stabilize the American market. Read the original article on Food & Wine
