Crackdown at the Border: Egg-smugglers Risk Getting Scrambled

• There has been a 36% increase in egg-smuggling attempts nationwide. Officials said there was a 54% rise along the Texas border.
• Egg prices in the U.S. dropped to an average of $5.51, compared to $2.30 in Mexican border towns.
• Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins warns that the slight dip in prices is unlikely to persist due to ongoing challenges with Avian bird flu.

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Egg-smuggling attempts are on the rise as border patrol agents clamp down. The Wall Street Journal reports a 36% increase in “egg interceptions” nationwide, with a 54% rise along the Texas border, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported a sharp decline in egg prices on Tuesday, with the average cost now $5.51, down from an all-time high of $8.17. In contrast, a dozen eggs in Mexican border towns cost about $2.30, the WSJ reported.

Who are the smugglers?

CPB officials told the Journal that most people crossing the border are unaware that carrying eggs is prohibited. Agents say many travelers carry flat cartons with 30 eggs and admit to having them when asked. Those who conceal the eggs often claim ignorance, but by the time they reach secondary inspection, they have been asked twice.

With Easter approaching, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told FOX Business that last week’s slight dip in prices is unlikely to persist.

“We’ve got a long way to go in combating the Avian bird flu. It’s not something that we can do overnight. It is a long-term effort,” Rollins said Tuesday, March 11.

Federal Investigation

The Department of Justice launched an investigation into whether major egg producers have artificially inflated prices. Rollins said the Trump administration has a five-point plan to bring down prices, but it will take time to see full results.