Following recent news reports of seizures of bologna smuggled into the U.S. through border crossings from Mexico, the Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP) stressed the dangers of introduction of foreign animal diseases.  During the past week, 230 pounds of contraband product was seized in incidents at the Bridge of the Americas crossing.  The CBP has not revealed how smugglers are identified, but based on statistics involving drugs, far more is missed than confiscated. 

Given the risks and consequences of introducing a foreign animal disease that could be devastating to livestock production, penalties for smuggling legal meat products should be intensified.  It is understood that confiscation of vehicles used to transport drugs is an option for state and federal authorities.  This penalty should be extended to deliberate and premeditated smuggling together with severe criminal prosecution as a felony rather than simply confiscation of product and the issue of a civil citation as is current practice.