ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – An Albuquerque man was caught trying to smuggle 242 pounds of pork bologna into the country Friday morning, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
CBP officials said the 52-year-old man arrived at the Paso Del Norte international crossing that connects Mexico to El Paso, Texas, and presented himself for inspection via the vehicle lanes. The man initially did not declare any fruits, vegetables, or meat products, but was referred for a secondary agriculture inspection.
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During the secondary inspection, CBP Agriculture Canine “Harlee” alerted to the rear cargo area of the vehicle. There, Agriculture Specialists found 22 rolls of bologna hidden beneath equipment in the rear of the vehicle.
They also found 60 undeclared Tramadol tablets, a schedule IV-controlled substance, in the center console of the vehicle.
The driver was issued a $1,000 promissory note for the prescription medication violation. The bologna was seized and destroyed by CBP per USDA regulations.
The bologna smuggling case is being referred to USDA Investigative and Enforcement Services. The man could face up to a $10,000 penalty if found guilty.
“Pork products have the potential to introduce foreign animal diseases to the U.S., which can have a devastating impact to the U.S. economy and to our agriculture industry,” CBP El Paso Director Field Operations Hector A. Mancha stated in a news release.
CBP said this is the second time in two months the Albuquerque man was caught attempting to smuggle bologna from Mexico to the U.S. at the El Paso port of entry.
In January, CBP agriculture specialists seized 55 rolls of undeclared bologna from the man. He was assessed a civil penalty in that case, and the contraband meat was seized and destroyed.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
