Dangerous grain pest intercepted at Detroit airport: Why CBP urges declaring all agriculture items
DETROIT, MI – U.S. Customs and Border Protection is reminding international travelers to declare all food and plant items after agriculture specialists last year intercepted the remains of a khapra beetle, which is considered the world’s most destructive grain pest, at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
CBP said the April 18 interception is being highlighted as an example of how easily invasive pests can enter the United States through undeclared agricultural goods and why even small or seemingly harmless items can pose serious risks to the nation’s food supply and economy.
The interception occurred when a traveler returning from Lebanon was referred to secondary inspection for an agriculture examination, during which officers discovered a small bag of undeclared seeds intended for growing purposes in the passenger’s luggage.
“Khapra beetle is one of the many significant threats we face at our borders,” Area Port Director Fadia Pastilong said in a statement. “This particularly destructive insect is known to be extremely difficult to detect, which is why even intercepting a cast skin is a big deal.”
USDA classifies khapra beetle as a quarantine-significant pest, whether alive or dead, because of the severe damage it can cause if introduced into the United States.
CBP said infestations in warehouses or grain storage facilities can render stored products inedible, posing a major threat to the nation’s agricultural economy.
The beetle’s ability to remain dormant for long periods and its resistance to pesticides have made past control efforts both lengthy and costly, federal officials said.
“We understand there may not be an explicit intent to bring a destructive pest into the U.S., but that is why it is absolutely essential for travelers to make an honest declaration of what they are bringing in,” said Marty C. Raybon in a statement, CBP’s director of field operations. “This allows CBP personnel to examine items, if necessary, to determine if they are permissible and free of any potential threats.”
CBP urged travelers to declare all food, plant and agricultural items upon arrival in the United States to help prevent the introduction of invasive pests and diseases.
CBP is the nation’s largest law enforcement organization, employing more than 67,000 people nationwide.
The agency is responsible for enforcing laws governing trade, travel and agriculture while protecting the country’s economic and national security.
