Contraband roundup: CBP seizes poppies, steroids, and eggs

It appears that Washington Dulles International Airport is in full harvest mode after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted a whopping 257 pounds of opium poppy pods over a single week. Clearly, someone out there had big plans for a floral arrangement — or something a bit stronger.

The shipments, cleverly labeled as “ornamental decora craft balls,” were sent from Madrid, Spain, and destined for multiple addresses across the United States. We can only imagine the level of disappointment at those addresses when the expected décor turned out to be nothing more than an empty porch and a missed delivery slip.

CBP officers seized the poppy pods in three separate busts, with the largest load — 141 pounds and nine ounces — nabbed on February 19. In total, the dried floral contraband carried a street value of about $25,000. While some might see a missed opportunity for a robust potpourri business, federal law classifies opium poppies and their various derivatives as Schedule II controlled substances.

CBP officers, however, were not in the mood for alternative agricultural enterprises. “The opioid epidemic remains a very real and a very serious health concern,” said Christine Waugh, Area Port Director for CBP’s Area Port of Washington, D.C. “Customs and Border Protection officers remain committed to keeping our communities safe by intercepting dangerous products, like these illegal poppy pods, at our nation’s ports of entry.”

While CBP was busy crushing the hopes and dreams of illicit tea enthusiasts, officers at the Paso Del Norte international crossing had their hands full with their own set of unusual contraband — rooster gaffs and thousands of animal steroid tablets. Apparently, someone had been planning a backyard poultry fight club, complete with performance-enhancing drugs. In case you were wondering, cockfighting paraphernalia is illegal in the U.S., and the traveler in question walked away with a $2,000 fine and a strong suggestion to consider a new hobby.

Meanwhile, border officers also made multiple drug seizures, confiscating methamphetamine bundles stuffed into truck seats and spare tires. A drug-sniffing dog gave the smuggling effort two paws down, and CBP officers recovered 56 drug-filled bundles from the vehicle. The driver was turned over to Texas authorities, presumably with a stern lecture on creative but ineffective hiding spots.

Not to be outdone, CBP agriculture specialists at El Paso cracked down on another significant threat to national security — raw eggs. A total of 90 would-be egg smugglers have been caught since January, attempting to sneak the contraband across the border. Eggs from Mexico are banned due to concerns about Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and Virulent Newcastle disease. Some travelers learned the hard way that failure to declare poultry products can lead to hefty fines — just one more reason to stick to the grocery store.