Texas border agents seize 154 pounds of bologna from driver at El Paso port

Border agents seized 14 rolls of Mexican bologna at a port of entry last week. Border agents seized 14 rolls of Mexican bologna at a port of entry last week. Photo: U.S. Customs And Border Protection Photo: U.S. Customs And Border Protection Image 1 of / 84 Caption Close Texas border agents seize 154 pounds of bologna from driver at El Paso port 1 / 84 Back to Gallery

A border patrol agent recently found more than 100 pounds of Mexican bologna upon inspecting a driver’s vehicle at an El Paso port of entry, according to officials with the U.S. Customers and Border Protection Office.

The seizure occurred Thursday after 9 a.m. at the Bridge of the Americas international crossing in El Paso, Texas where agents stopped a Chevrolet pickup with a Texas license plate that was entering from Mexico, officials said. When the officer asked the man what he was bringing in from Mexico, the driver said he had frozen rolls of turkey ham.

The vehicle was inspected a second time and agents then discovered 14 rolls of Mexican bologna weighing about 154 pounds behind the rear seat of the truck, officials said.

Bologna importation is prohibited because it is made from pork, which could introduce foreign animal diseases to the U.S. industry.

The driver was not arrested, but the meat was seized and destroyed, officials said.

"It is important that travelers understand they should declare all items they are transporting from abroad to avoid fines and penalties,” said CBP El Paso Port Director Beverly Good in a statement. “A properly declared prohibited item can be abandoned at the port without consequence."

Michelle Iracheta is a digital reporter in Houston. Read her on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | michelle.iracheta@chron.com