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Transcript/ScriptPLAYBOOK SLUG: TV Contraband eggs - Contreras
HEAD: Contraband Eggs Smuggled From Mexico to U.S.
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: 02/07/2023 at 10:15am
BYLINE: César Contreras
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE:
VIDEOGRAPHER:
TRANSLATOR/VIDEO EDITOR: Veronica Villafañe
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA,
PLATFORMS: (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
SCRIPT EDITORS: Kenochs; Bowman
TRT: 1:51
VID APPROVED BY: Holly Franko
EDS NOTES: ))
((INTRO))
[[A severe egg shortage in the U.S. is prompting a flood of unusual contraband at the U.S.-Mexico border: fresh eggs. Cesar Contreras reports this story, narrated by Veronica Villafañe.]]
((NARRATION))
A sharp rise in egg prices in the United States has prompted some who regularly traverse America’s southern border to buy eggs at lower prices in Mexico and try to smuggle them north.
[[Radio Track: Luis Carlos Macias is an agriculture specialist with U.S. Customs and Border Protection]]
((Luis Carlos Macias, CBP Agriculture Specialist)) ((in Spanish))
"Over the last three months we have noticed an increase of about 108% in seizures of fresh chicken products - specifically fresh eggs. That’s what has been confiscated the most coming in from Juarez into El Paso."
((NARRATION))
In Texas, Arizona and California, agents have seized large quantities of contraband eggs in recent months.
Egg prices have soared as an outbreak of avian influenza decimated poultry in the U.S. at a time when Americans are eating more of the protein-rich food.
But buying cheaper eggs in Mexico and smuggling them across the border can be costly. Those who are caught face steep fines.
((Luis Carlos Macias, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol)) ((in Spanish))
"If you are going to bring them in and don’t declare it, one: they’ll be confiscated, and two: you’ll get a $300 fine for the first offense. A second offense can land you a thousand dollar fine."
((NARRATION))
U.S.-based consumers like Julio Rangel understand the pain of high food prices. But he says people should follow the rules.
((Julio Rangel, El Paso Resident)) ((in Spanish))
"The fine makes sense, because we can bring parasites or other diseases from the eggs brought from Mexico. We have to deal with it and adapt like when gas prices went up."
((NARRATION))
The price of eggs in the U.S. has gone from just under two dollars per dozen to as much as 5 dollars.
In Mexico, eggs cost roughly half what Americans are paying.
Customs and Border Protection officials say illegal egg shipments intended to be sold in the U.S. could trigger fines of ten thousand dollars.
((For César Contreras in El Paso, Texas, Veronica Villafañe, VOA News.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
BylineCésar Contreras
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
