Minnesota Federal Agents Seize Prohibited Meat Products and Animal Skins

March 29, 2023 — 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists intercepted three shipments containing dangerous prohibited items at an Express Consignment Operations (ECO) hub near Minneapolis - Saint Paul International Airport (MSP).

On March 21, agriculture specialists inspected three packages arriving from Hong Kong, Laos and Thailand. The first shipment was manifested as a ceramic plate, but inspection of the shipment revealed food items. While most were enterable food items with no agriculture concerns, approximately 7 pounds of prohibited beef and pork sausage, CBP said in a release.

The second shipment from Laos, contained 16 pounds of prohibited material, such as tubers and root stock that required phytosanitary certification. The items were removed and examined for pests, CBP explains. A deeper dive into the package uncovered a layer of wood chips that concealed a dried animal skin. The animal skin was removed from the shipment and referred to Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS) who identified the skin as badger and detained the skin (see in photo at Farm Journal's Pork).

The third shipment from Thailand was manifested as dried bamboo shoot but contained an animal skin. Further inspection showed it was a prohibited water buffalo skin.

All prohibited items were destroyed in accordance with USDA's directives. All the shipments were addressed to various locations in Minnesota. Additionally, all the recipients were notified that their shipments were either seized or had prohibited items removed, CBP reports.

CBP officers and agriculture specialists are stationed at ECOs around the nation and conduct inspections to ensure imported goods meet U.S. admissibility regulations.

"Our nation's food supply is constantly at risk from pests and disease not known to occur in the U.S.," LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, Director, Field Operations-Chicago Field Office, says in the release. "These significant interceptions by our Agriculture Specialists at the ECO at MSP exemplify CBP's continued commitment to safeguarding American agriculture."

[Source: Farm Journal's Pork 28 March 2023 by Jennifer Shike]