Our local ports of entry at times become the center of attention for smuggling of both people and drugs.
But sometimes, it’s a different type of seizure that makes headlines.
Office of Field Operation personnel are the face at the border for most cargo and visitors entering the United States.
“As you know our primary focus is stopping terrorists and weapons of terrorism,” said CBP Officer Eduardo G. Perez.
CBP officers perform vehicle and agriculture inspections to protect the United States from potential carriers of animal and plant pests or diseases.
Many days inspectors make interesting finds like uniquely packaged drugs like one in a shipment of watermelons.
More and more, smugglers are getting inventive with fruit and vegetables and even using canned goods to disguise drugs in an attempt to sneak illegal shipments into the U.S.
“Working on the front line here, our officers get excited when they get a load of cocaine, heroin," Perez said. "They stop weapons from going out of the country, money seizures are always good, on occasion, though we get different kinds of seizures, one seizure was 12 gallons of dried scorpions and ants.”
Speaking of creepy crawlers, a jewel-encrusted beetle was draped as a decorative pin on a blouse worn by a woman traveling into the U.S., she did declare the live broach but it was confiscated.
The live insect studded with gemstones and gold, was turned over to Fish and Wildlife.
“Another case was 54 lizards and snakes that somebody had tried to export into Mexico,” said Perez.
The animals were given to U.S. Fish and Wildlife and are now in the Gladys Porter Zoo.
Many people don’t realize you need special permits to import live and dead animals; such was the case with this polar bear rug.
CBP Field Operations enforces the law and regulations of over 40 different agencies; laws that cover product safety, public health, and fair trade practices.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKGBT