Border agents seize 154 pounds of 'prohibited bologna' at US/Mexico border

EL PASO, Texas (KSNV) -- Customs and Border Protection seized 154 pounds of "prohibited bologna" this week at the U.S./Mexico border crossing in El Paso, Texas.

Agents seized the banned meat Thursday morning at the Bridge of the Americas international crossing after a Chevrolet pickup with a Texas license plate entered the port from Mexico.

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A CBP officer spotted red rolls behind the rear seat of a truck, to which the driver advised he had frozen rolls of turkey ham.

Upon secondary inspection, officials found 14 rolls of Mexican bologna, weighing 154 pounds. The meat product was destroyed and the driver was released, officials said.

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

Homeland Security said that the bologna is a prohibited product because it is possible it could introduce "foreign animal diseases" to the U.S. pork industry.