MIAMI - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) agriculture specialists at Miami International Airport seized a shipment of fresh canistel fruit arriving in a package from Thailand on July 13.
Fresh fruit seized at Miami International Airport
Agriculture specialists selected the package, which was manifested as “Dried Fruit”, for inspection after anomalies were viewed on the X-ray.
While performing an enforcement examination of the package, agriculture specialists discovered four fresh canistel fruits (Pouteria sp.) wrapped in brown packing tape. After a thorough examination of the fruit, eight immature larvae were found.
Pursuant to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Fruits and Vegetables Import Requirements (FAVIR), Pouteria sp. is prohibited from entering the United States from Thailand.
The larvae were identified as Bactrocera sp. (Tephritidae). Bactrocera is a large genus of tephritid fruit flies, with more than 500 species currently damaging olive, citrus, peach, watermelon, guavas, among other crops. The shipment lacked any certifications or permits and CBP seized the commodity.
“Our CBP agriculture specialists work tirelessly to uphold CBP’s agriculture mission," said Miami International Airport Port Director Christopher Maston. "This is a great example of how they prevent the intentional or unintentional entry of biological threats into the United States.”
CBP agriculture specialists work to curtail the spread of harmful pests and plant and animal diseases that may harm America’s farms and food supply, and to avert bio- and agro-terrorism.
To see more CBP activity in Florida, visit @CBPFlorida on Twitter.