LAREDO, TEXAS — The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists recently seized significant quantities of animal materials at the Laredo Port of Entry.

“Our CBP agriculture specialists and agriculture canine teams this weekend faced a significant amount of traffic and increased risk of prohibited plants and animal material entering the US,” said Laredo port director Albert Flores. “Their targeted examinations and close work with Texas game wardens as a force multiplier yielded significant quantities of prohibited items and helped to protect American agriculture from unestablished pests and diseases.”

Over the four-day period ending Jan. 8, CBP officers made 221 interceptions of prohibited animal materials. Nearly 60 penalties, totaling $18,375 in fines, were issued from both undeclared animal and plant materials.

CBP noted two live bird seizures, which were turned over to the US Department of Agriculture Veterinary Services, as well as a live turtle interception and large quantities of confiscated pork.