Egg smuggling at all‑time high as fentanyl cases decline
According to the American public radio station, NPR, U.S. customs services are noting an increase in egg smuggling across the borders, while the number of fentanyl seizures — frequently mentioned by former President Donald Trump — is decreasing. This problem has intensified during the ongoing egg crisis in the U.S.
In the United States, egg prices have soared due to the bird flu epidemic. The country is importing eggs, and the problem of illegal egg smuggling at the borders is growing. NPR reports that the American customs agency recorded a 48% 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 noticeable in San Diego, where the number of seizures of illegally smuggled eggs rose by 158%. Meanwhile, the number of fentanyl seizures, a dangerous opioid drug, has decreased. In February, American customs officials seized smuggled fentanyl 63 times, compared to 95 such cases a year earlier, according to NPR.
The bird flu epidemic in the U.S., caused by the H5N1 virus, has affected over 168 million birds in the country since the beginning of 2022. In the current fiscal year alone, 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 additional supply will help reduce egg prices. The Department of Agriculture has already confirmed agreements with Turkey and South Korea.
