Egg smuggling soars as fentanyl seizures drop at US borders
According to the American public radio network NPR, U.S. Customs services are noting an increase in egg smuggling across the borders, while the number of fentanyl seizures—an issue frequently highlighted by former President Donald Trump—is decreasing. This problem has intensified during the ongoing egg crisis in the U.S.
In the U.S., egg prices have skyrocketed due to the bird flu epidemic. The country is importing eggs, and the issue of illegal egg smuggling at the borders is increasing. NPR reports that the U.S. Customs agency recorded a 48 percent increase in raw egg seizures at the northern and southern borders compared to last year's data.
U.S. increase in egg seizures at the borders
The egg smuggling issue is particularly noticeable in San Diego, where the number of seizures of illegally smuggled eggs increased by 158 percent. At the same time, the number of fentanyl seizures, a dangerous opioid used illicitly, has decreased. In February, U.S. Customs officials seized smuggled fentanyl 63 times, compared to 95 such cases a year earlier, NPR reports.
The bird flu epidemic in the U.S., caused by the H5N1 virus, has affected over 168 million birds since the beginning of 2022. In the current fiscal year, customs officials have intervened 5,572 times regarding the illegal transport of eggs.
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that the administration is preparing agreements to import eggs from additional countries. "We are talking about hundreds of millions of eggs in a short period," Rollins said, predicting that the additional supply will help lower egg prices. The Department of Agriculture has already confirmed agreements with Turkey and South Korea.
