
Eggs are now the new hottest smuggled item into the US, even more than drugs
From crates of contraband eggs being seized at checkpoints to fines being issued for unauthorized poultry products, eggs have suddenly become one of the hottest black-market items according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. In fact, since October, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has recorded more than 3,700 seizures of bird and poultry-related products—a staggering number when compared to just 352 fentanyl seizures in the same period.
Why Are People Smuggling Eggs?
The answer is simple: price and availability.
Egg prices in the U.S. have reached record highs, with some cities seeing costs soar to $10 per dozen. Meanwhile, in Mexico, the same eggs can be found for under $2 per dozen, making cross-border shopping a tempting alternative. But here’s the catch—importing raw eggs into the U.S. is illegal due to concerns over avian flu and other health risks.
Despite this, border patrol agents have reported a 36% increase in attempted egg smuggling, with some regions like San Diego seeing a 158% jump in cases. Many offenders claim they had no idea it was against the law, while others have gone to great lengths to conceal their poultry haul. Some have been caught stuffing eggs under blankets, hiding them in spare tires, or even mixing them in with other groceries in a desperate attempt to evade detection.