Following a check at the Texas border between the United States and Mexico on Monday, one woman lost a significant amount of meat.
During a search at the “port of entry” in the border city of Presidio, some 748 pounds of bologna, 280 boxes of unreported prescription drugs, and $7,600 in concealed money were seized by Border Patrol agents, according to a news release.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection claims that the 43-year-old American citizen only declared a prepared dinner during the initial check. After choosing to carry out a second check, CBP officers found and took several luggage out of her car.
“The suitcases seemed heavier than normal. Agriculture specialists opened one suitcase and found numerous rolls of Mexican bologna inside,” Roger Maier, CBP spokesperson stated.
Additionally, CBP agents discovered that numerous boxes of prescription medication were concealed inside 2023 GMC Yukon compartments.
The woman was penalized $1,000 for not declaring the bologna, prescription, and cash in addition to losing them. After being confiscated, all 40 rolls of “Mexican bologna” were incinerated.
Since the woman’s “Mexican bologna” is a “prohibited product,” it was taken away. The U.S. pork business could potentially be exposed to foreign animal diseases, as stated by CBP.
The port director at Presidio, Benito Reyes Jr., emphasized the significance of tourists educating themselves on what goods are permitted to enter the United States.
“And even if they believe an item is allowed travelers should still declare all items they are transporting to the U.S. to avoid fines and penalties,” Reyes Jr. stated. “The concern with pork products is that they have the potential to introduce foreign animal diseases that can have devastating effects to the U.S. economy and to our agriculture industry.”
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Which goods are forbidden at American borders?
According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website, any and all unreported forbidden items, such as “dangerous toys, cars that don’t protect their occupants in a crash, bush meat, or illegal substances like absinthe and Rohypnol,” may be detained and/or subject to a civil penalty.
