Border Patrol agents uncover 450 illegal pork tamales at LAX

Published November 19, 2015

Nov. 2, 2015: This undated photo released by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shows seized 450 prohibited pork meat tamales discovered inside the luggage of a passenger arriving at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) from Mexico in Los Angeles. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection via AP)

The contraband was carefully wrapped in corn husks and concealed in the luggage of a traveler when authorities moved in for a tamale takedown at Los Angeles International Airport.

The search by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents turned up 450 pork tamales individually packaged in plastic bags.

"Although tamales are a popular holiday tradition, foreign meat products can carry serious animal diseases," said Anne Maricich, CBP acting director of field operations in Los Angeles.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Wednesday the customs form filed by the traveler from Mexico acknowledged the person was carrying food but had lied when asked if there was any meat.

Tamales contain cornmeal, meat or other fillings cooked in husks or leaves.

The tamales seized Nov. 2 at the airport were destroyed under CBP supervision. The traveler was assessed a $1,000 civil penalty for commercial activity with the intent to distribute.

During fiscal year 2014, CBP agriculture specialists nationwide issued 75,330 civil violations and intercepted more than 1.6 million animal by-product, meat and plant/soil quarantine products.

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