Photo courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionWeb Producer: Lucy Valencia, Assignment Desk Editor
SANTA TERESA, NEW MEXICO - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry seized 230 pounds of cheese late Friday night.
CBP tells KSWT News 13 that the contraband queso was confiscated when the quantity was deemed a commercially sized import.
"Individuals can import personal quantities of cheese – something in the 10 pound range," said Joane Thale-Lembo, CBP Santa Teresa Port Director.
"This shipment certainly exceeded that quantity and was therefore seized and destroyed."
A Ford F-150 pickup truck entered the port from Mexico.
CBP officers initiated an exam of the vehicle and located three large ice chests inside the truck. They opened the coolers and found numerous bundles of undeclared cheese.
CBP officers seized the cheese. The driver, a 50-year-old from Colorado, paid a $300 penalty for having the cheese.
The cheese was destroyed.
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