US Customs Seizes Chickpeas and Popcorn from India - No Chana masala in US?
GENERALLY, when international travellers try to smuggle prohibited food products through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the food products are in small amounts or are cleverly concealed inside something else.
But recently CPB officers in Washington Dulles International Airport found an Indian couple trying to smuggle in about 25 pounds of chick peas and five pounds of popcorn with green curry leaves. Chickpeas from India are prohibited due to the possible introduction of harmful plant diseases and insect pests, such as the highly destructive Khapra beetle. The couple returned from India through Dubai and processed their international arrivals separately at the Global Entry self-help kiosks. Neither traveller declared possessing any food products. CBP officers referred them to a secondary compliance inspection. During that secondary inspection, the couple again declared not possessing food products in any of their eight pieces of baggage. After further questioning, they then declared possessing only sweets and spices. When a CBP agriculture specialist passed each bag through an x-ray, anomalies were detected in seven bags. Further examination discovered about 25 pounds of chick peas and five pounds of popcorn with green curry leaves.
They were however let off with a fine of 500 dollars.