One woman lost a whole lot of meat and then some on Monday, following an inspection at the U.S.- Mexico border in Texas.
About 748 pounds of bologna, 280 boxes of undeclared prescription medications and $7,600 in concealed currency were confiscated by Border Patrol agents during an inspection at the “port of entry” in the border city of Presidio, according to a news release.
The 43-year-old woman, who is a U.S. citizen, only declared a cooked meal during the initial inspection, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. CBP agents decided to conduct a second inspection, where they discovered and removed several suitcases from her vehicle.
“The suitcases seemed heavier than normal. Agriculture specialists opened one suitcase and found numerous rolls of Mexican bologna inside,” Roger Maier, CBP spokesperson said in the news release.
CBP agents also found that hidden inside compartments in the 2023 GMC Yukon were various boxes of prescription medication.
In addition to losing the bologna, medication and money, the woman was fined $1,000 for failing to declare the items. All 40 rolls of the “Mexican bologna” were destroyed after they were seized.
‘Mexican bologna is prohibited,’ CBP says
The woman’s “Mexican bologna” was taken away because it is a “prohibited product.” It has, according to CBP, the potential to introduce foreign animal diseases to the U.S. pork industry.
Benito Reyes Jr., port director at Presidio, stressed the importance of travelers educating themselves on what products can legally enter the 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. sad in the news release. “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.”
What items are prohibited at U.S. borders?
Any and all undeclared prohibited items, like “dangerous toys, cars that don’t protect their occupants in a crash, bush meat, or illegal substances like absinthe and Rohypnol” can be seized and/or result in a civil penalty, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.
An extensive list items that are restricted and prohibited can be found here.
