U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility recently intercepted a shipment of over 34,286 pounds of sweetened condensed milk. The seizure was due to suspicious documentation, raising concerns about a potential attempt to fraudulently import the goods, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Port Director Carlos Rodriguez emphasized U.S. Customs and Border Protection's focus on protecting American agriculture. "CBP is committed to the health and safety of the American agriculture resources, which is why our agriculture specialists scrutinize all documents for consumable goods entering the United States," Rodriguez said. On October 28, officers stopped a tractor-trailer arriving from Mexico, which declared its contents as "canned cream or milk substitute," a category that requires additional import checks.
Last Tuesday, agriculture specialists couldn't verify a Zoosanitary Certificate for a shipment from Mexico. This certificate is required for animal products entering the U.S. to ensure they are disease-free. After checking with U.S. and Mexican officials, it was found to be fake. As a result, the shipment—18 pallets of sweetened condensed milk, totaling 864 containers—was seized and set for destruction. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is continuing its investigation, as reported by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
