As consumers grapple with soaring egg prices, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has reported a surge in individuals attempting to smuggle eggs across the border from Mexico. The CBP's San Diego Field Office revealed a 158% increase in egg interceptions since the fiscal year of 2024. A CBP spokesperson disclosed that there has been a 29% rise in eggs being detained at ports of entry this fiscal year compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year (October 2023 – February 2024).
The spike in egg prices can be attributed to an outbreak of avian flu affecting egg-laying hens in the US since 2022. Over the past three years, approximately 166 million birds have been impacted by the deadly avian flu, according to the US Agriculture Department.
CBP's director of field operations in San Diego, Sidney Aki, emphasized the importance of keeping the public informed to protect the agricultural industry while facilitating legitimate trade and travel. San Diego resident Johnny Williams shared an incident where CBP agents confiscated 24 eggs from a man attempting to cross them into the US, expressing skepticism about the inflated egg prices.
Meanwhile, in Texas, the El Paso area CBP not only seized 64 pounds of methamphetamine but also issued 16 civil penalties totaling nearly $4,000 related to the attempted smuggling of prohibited agriculture and food products, including raw eggs.
The director of field operations for CBP's Laredo, Texas, office issued a warning against importing eggs, emphasizing that it is prohibited to bring in raw/fresh eggs, raw chicken, or live birds. Travelers are mandated to declare all agricultural products to CBP officers and agriculture specialists or risk fines of up to $10,000.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins unveiled a $1 billion plan to address escalating egg prices. However, Rollins acknowledged in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that the solution would not be immediate, projecting that the egg market may take another three to six months to stabilize. In January, the average cost of a dozen eggs stood at $4.95, nearly double the price from the previous year, reaching a record high, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
