Yuma News Now

CBP agriculture specialists working the Mariposa cargo facility discovered the Chalcodermus radiatus Champion, a weevil with no known common name, in a shipment of pineapples.

CBP agriculture specialists made the discovery on May 4 as they were inspecting a shipment of pineapples that originated from Oaxaca, Mexico. The pest has been previously intercepted nine times at various ports of entry (Charleston, Miami, and Long Beach). Although the pest may appear harmless, if not detected it could cause economic damage to various pea, bean, cotton and strawberry crops.

CBP agriculture specialists have extensive training and experience in agricultural and biological inspection. Their historic mission of preventing the introduction of harmful plant pests into the United States provides CBP with the expertise to recognize and prevent the entry of organisms that could potentially devastate entire segments of our agriculture-related economy.

Field Operations is responsible for securing our borders at the ports of entry. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers’ primary mission is anti-terrorism; they screen all people, vehicles, and goods entering the United States, while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel into and out of the United States. Their mission also includes carrying out traditional border-related responsibilities, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration law, protecting the nation’s food supply and agriculture industry from plant pests and foreign animal diseases, and enforcing trade laws.

While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all categories.