Desperate Americans are smuggling eggs into the US from Mexico and Canada amid a surge in prices.
Rates of egg smuggling have skyrocketed in recent months at the US’ borders as prices spike following multiple bird flu outbreaks.
US customs and border protection (CBP) said it has recorded a 158 per cent rise in egg smuggling interceptions at its San Diego field office in California since last year.
At the El Paso border station in Texas, agents identified more than 90 people “attempting to import raw eggs from Mexico” between January and February this year.
Likewise, the National Post reports that officials at the Detroit-Windsor crossing at the Canadian border have seen a 36 per cent increase in “interceptions of eggs” compared to last year.
Overall, from October to February, CBP recorded a 29 per cent rise in smuggled eggs at US ports of entry.
Poultry and egg prices have soared as millions of birds are culled following the biggest avian flu outbreak in a decade.
In February, thieves stole 100,000 organic eggs from a business in Pennsylvania – valued at some $40,000 – a crime police suggested was triggered by rising costs.
A series of restaurant chains, including Waffle House and Denny’s, have instituted an egg surcharge in response to national shortages and price increases.
Egg prices rose 13.8 per cent in January following an 8.4 per cent rise in December, according to the US department of agriculture. It predicts that costs will increase by 41 per cent this year.
According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, Canada exported $44 million worth of eggs to the US in 2023, while Mexico exported $1.54 million. Exports from both countries are now subject to a 25 per cent tariff imposed by Donald Trump on Tuesday.
CBP does not class most of the eggs brought into the country as “smuggling” because they are usually surrendered freely without consequence.
“It is critical that we keep our travelling public informed to safeguard our agricultural industry while continuing to facilitate legitimate trade and travel,” said Sidney Aki, CBP’s field operations director in San Diego.
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