An international traveler arriving from El Salvador was attempting to import 25 sea turtle eggs. However, all species of sea turtles are endangered and US Fish and Wildlife Service prohibits their importation.
Houston CBP Acting Director of Field Operations, Judson W. Murdock, II, said, "Our agriculture specialists ... take every opportunity to protect our nation's agriculture and to enforce hundreds of US laws on behalf of several different agencies including US Fish and Wildlife Service."
The endangered sea turtle eggs were seized and turned over to US Fish and Wildlife Service. The eggs will be sent to South Padre Island where they will undergo DNA analysis.
According to US Customs and Border Protection, this is the second such seizure in the last two months at Bush Intercontinental Airport. The last seizure of this type occurred October 20 when an international traveler arriving from El Salvador was attempting to bring a dozen sea turtle eggs.
