Bologna smuggler busted at U.S.-Mexico border

By: Barry Leibowitz
Topics: Daily Blotter

76 lbs. of Mexican bologna federal agents say was hidden in a spare tire, and which they intercepted Friday, Oct. 21, 2011 at an El Paso, Texas port of entry

(Credit: U.S. Customs and Border Protection/KRQE)

(CBS/AP) ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Name three things that get smuggled into the U.S from Mexico:

1 - Drugs

2 - Immigrants

3 - Bologna?

A New Mexico resident has been cited after federal officials say he tried to smuggle 76 pounds of illicit lunch meat from Mexico by hiding it in a spare tire.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said last week that the eight rolls of Mexican bologna were discovered aboard a truck at an El Paso port of entry on Friday.

According to officials, officers detected an anomaly in the appearance of a Ford F-150 as it arrived at the Paso Del Norte international crossing port. Agents scanned the spare tire with a density meter.

When they opened the spare tire, officials said agents found the bologna hidden inside.

"This bologna is a prohibited product because it is made from pork and has the potential for introducing foreign animal diseases to the U.S. pork industry," CBP El Paso Port Director Hector Mancha told CBS affiliate KRQE. "This is a highly unusual seizure because of the concealment method."

The driver was assessed a $1,000 civil penalty and was released.

We figure the folks at the customs bureau had a filling lunch.

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by RedDeath50 October 25, 2011 6:58 AM EDT: Customs is great at capturing illegal bologna entering the country. Too bad they aren't as good catching illegal immigrants crossing the border!; Reply to this comment


by gallianoparfait October 25, 2011 6:48 AM EDT: It's spelled BOLOGNA! (Like the Italian city.); Reply to this comment


by TrickyWV October 25, 2011 6:31 AM EDT: US Custom and Border protection is full of Balogna; Reply to this comment


by Imthaid2 October 25, 2011 4:51 AM EDT: Bologna is NASTY! Try feeding a pound of bologna to a dog and see what happens.; Reply to this comment


by red_robin October 24, 2011 11:45 PM EDT: Balogna = a town in France. Bologna = lunch meat. C'mon, CBS!; Reply to this comment


by rwsmith29456 October 24, 2011 11:09 PM EDT: "We figure the folks at the customs bureau had a filling lunch." That's a pretty cheap shot.; Reply to this comment


by Jaylah54 October 24, 2011 9:21 PM EDT: Seriously slow news day, CBS?; Reply to this comment

by Progress4USA October 24, 2011 8:41 PM EDT

We have enough Balogna with the GOP line-up...

Reply to this comment


by wasadem1 October 24, 2011 10:31 PM EDT: And we have had way to much with Barry Obama who by the way will be a one term president. Have a nice day