A woman from Sinaloa, Mexico was fined $300 after chorizo was found in her suitcase at the Mariposa crossing in Nogales, Arizona.
More than 14 pounds of the Mexican pork sausage was found wrapped in diapers in a suitcase that belonged to a woman who was traveling into Arizona on a commercial bus Aug. 5, federal authorities said in a news release Monday.
The woman was fined and the bus and its passengers proceeded through the port of entry without further incident, said officials. The seized pork sausage and diapers were destroyed by incineration.
"Agriculture specialists in Nogales are always observant to prevent the introduction of prohibited agricultural products, said Luz Garlarza, port director in Nogales.
"This includes pork meat and pork products, which could lead to the introduction of animal diseases like classical swine fever," said Garlarza.
Among federal officers duties, is to protect the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases, said officials.
Travelers must declare all agricultural items upon their arrival to the United States, authorities said.Β
