484 pounds of bologna and 285 pounds of cheese seized at the Texas border, feds say
Pounds and pounds of bologna and cheese were seized from two vehicles trying to cross into Texas within a few hours of each other, authorities said.
A whopping 769 pounds, to be exact.
In the first case, shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27, a 32-year-old U.S. citizen tried entering Texas at the Paso Del Norte border crossing in downtown El Paso, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
A border officer noticed the driver of a red pickup truck was exhibiting “nervousness during the routine interview.” The driver was taken to a secondary inspection point, according to a news release.
Authorities said they found 44 roles of Mexican bologna hidden in the truck’s toolbox and under a blanket on the truck floor. The contraband pork meat — weighing 484 pounds — was seized.
The driver received a $1,000 penalty, authorities said.
“Pork products have the potential to introduce foreign animal diseases that can be detrimental to our agriculture industry,” CBP El Paso Port Director Ray Provencio said in the release.
Travelers are prohibited from bringing in fresh, canned or dried meats from most foreign countries.
About three hours later, authorities said another U.S. citizen tried entering El Paso in an SUV. The 43-year-old woman was chosen for a secondary inspection.
During the exam, officers found a blanket hiding several boxes, according to the release. The boxes held 285 pounds of blocked and bagged cheese.
The cheeses were seized, officials said, and the driver received a $1,000 civil penalty.
“This was a commercial quantity and the importer failed to follow proper procedures to legally enter this product,” Provencio said.
Travelers can typically bring in declared cheese for personal use, but dairy products are subject to quota restrictions set by Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Agriculture.
This story was originally published October 28, 2022 at 9:28 AM with the headline "484 pounds of bologna and 285 pounds of cheese seized at the Texas border, feds say."