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  4. Hitchhiking Termites Stopped by CBP in Charleston

Hitchhiking Termites Stopped by CBP in Charleston

Release Date
Fri, 06/05/2020

CHARLESTON, S.C. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations, at Charleston seaport intercepted potentially dangerous pests in a shipment destined for North Carolina.

CBPAS Charleston find termites
These termites were stopped by CBP Agriculture
Specialist  at Charleston Seaport.

On May 29, CBP Agriculture Specialists inspected a maritime shipment of stacks of lumber from Cameroon and found pests crawling on the wood. The pests were collected and promptly sent over to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) laboratory for further evaluation. The container was sealed and secured awaiting the USDA report.

“This interception of these termites hitchhiking on a lumber shipment is significant,” said Richard Quinn, CBP Port Director at Charleston Seaport. “CBP agriculture specialists perform work that is critical to protecting the U.S. by preventing the introduction of harmful pests into the country.”

The USDA identified the pests as Kalotermitidae species, also known as dry wood termites which can cause significant damage to structure timbers and hardwood floors in homes.

The containers and lumber were fumigated to mitigate the risk of the pests and to ensure all specimens are no longer living before the commodity was released back to the importer. 

CBP agriculture specialists have extensive training and experience in the biological sciences and agricultural inspection.

CBPAS Charleston intercept Termites
Termites were discovered  by CBP Agriculture
Specialists on this shipment of wood.

On a typical day nationally, they inspect over 1 million people as well as land, air and sea cargo imported to the United States, and intercept 314 agriculture pests and 4,695 prohibited meat, plant materials or animal products. Learn more about what CBP achieved during "A Typical Day" in 2019.

CBP's agriculture protection mission is led at ports of entry by CBP agriculture specialists from the Office of Field Operations. Please visit CBP Ports of Entry to learn more about how CBP’s Office of Field Operations secures our nation’s borders. 

Follow the Director of CBP’s Atlanta Field Office on Twitter at @DFOAtlanta and  for breaking news, current events, human-interest stories and photos.

 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021