U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Wednesday announced that it seized 450 “prohibited pork meat tamales” at Los Angeles International Airport in early November.
CBP said the tamales were found inside the luggage of a passenger traveling from Mexico on Nov. 2.
According to agricultural specialists on the scene, the traveler declared food items, but then said the food didn’t include any pork. Agents inspected the luggage, and found the passenger was lying, as the tamales did indeed include pork.
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“Although tamales are a popular holiday tradition, foreign meat products can carry serious animal diseases from countries affected by outbreaks of avian influenza, mad cow and swine fever,” said Anne Maricich, CBP acting director of field operations in Los Angeles.
“Every day CBP agriculture specialists prevent the intentional and unintentional introduction of harmful pests and foreign animal diseases into the U.S.”
CBP said the traveler was assessed a $1,000 civil penalty for “commercial activity with intent to distribute.”
“The pork meat tamales were seized and destroyed under CBP supervision,” CBP said.
