Border Protection warns travelers face fines for smuggling eggs to US from Mexico as prices soar

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Americans living near the southern border apparently are crossing into Mexico for their grocery buying to dodge excessive prices within the United States.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection lately warned travelers that transporting agricultural objects like raw eggs and poultry from Mexico to the United States may end up in fines. The company linked rising prices attributed to the outbreak of fowl flu to a rise in prohibited foodstuffs intercepted by officers on the border.

“We are seeing a rise in individuals try to cross eggs from Juarez to El Paso as a result of they’re considerably inexpensive in Mexico than the U.S. This can be occurring with added frequency at different southwest border places as nicely,” stated Roger Maier, a CBP Public Affairs Specialist based mostly in El Paso, Texas.

The El Paso Field Office reported a 92% enhance in incidents of travelers trying to carry eggs into the United States between Nov. 1 and Jan. 17 over the identical interval final 12 months. The San Diego Field Office reported the best variety of interceptions/encounters involving eggs, with 1,077 incidents, a 368% enhance since final 12 months.

Anyone caught smuggling eggs can face a $300 civil penalty, although CBP says most individuals declare their prohibited foodstuffs throughout inspection on the border.

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A CBP officer carries eggs seized at the southern border

Eggs seized by CBP officers on the southern border. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection / Fox News)

“There has been a big enhance within the quantity of prohibited meals objects, such as uncooked eggs and uncooked poultry meat, introduced by travelers from Mexico. We would really like to remind the touring public that federal agricultural rules stay in impact,” stated Jennifer De La O, CBP Director of Field Operations in San Diego in a current press launch.

Thanks to an outbreak of avian influenza, U.S. egg inventories have been 29% decrease within the closing week of December 2022 than initially of the 12 months, in accordance to the Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service. More than 43 million egg-laying hens have been misplaced to the illness, and constrained provide has despatched egg prices skyrocketing to document highs.

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported a 92% enhance in eggs seized on the El Paso Field Office from Nov. 1 to Jan. 17 over the identical interval final 12 months. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection / Fox News)

Consumers have been hit with a 60% enhance in prices throughout all egg sorts final 12 months, in accordance to the buyer value index, which measures inflation.

The common value for a dozen giant, Grade A eggs was $4.25 in December, a 138% enhance from $1.79 the 12 months prior, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics.

US BORDER AUTHORITIES REPORT INCREASE IN EGG SMUGGLING ATTEMPTS AS POULTRY PRICES SOAR AMID INFLATION

A Customs and Border Protection agent checks a woman's documents at the Paso Del Norte Port of entry in downtown El Paso, Texas

A Customs and Border Protection agent checks a lady’s paperwork on the Paso Del Norte Port of entry in downtown El Paso, Texas on Nov. 8, 2021. (PAUL RATJE/AFP through Getty Images / Getty Images)

Though excessive prices within the U.S. could make cheaper eggs in Mexico seem to be a straightforward manner to get monetary savings, CBP is reminding border residents that prohibited meals objects declared throughout inspection when touring from Mexico might be collected and destroyed.

“There have been a really small variety of circumstances within the final week or so the place the eggs weren’t declared after which found throughout an inspection,” Maier instructed FOX Business. “When that occurs, the eggs are seized and the person is assessed a $300 civil penalty. Penalties may be larger for repeat offenders or industrial dimension imports.

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“With meals and agriculture merchandise, one of the best recommendation to travelers is to at all times declare it. While many objects could also be permissible, it’s finest to declare them to keep away from attainable fines and penalties if they’re deemed prohibited,” he added. “If they’re declared and deemed prohibited, they are often deserted with out consequence. If they’re undeclared after which found throughout an examination the traveler might be topic to penalties.”