LOUISVILLE, KY. — Between Aug. 20 and 28, agriculture specialists from the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized 13 shipments of prohibited meat from a single corporation going to a company in Bellerose, NY. In total, 1,104 lbs of pork, 298 lbs of poultry and 88 lbs of other prohibited foods were seized.

Specialists from the Louisville Port of Entry intercepted the packages, which were shipped from a company based in Hong Kong. CBP notified the receiving company that the shipments were destroyed.

Pork products from Hong Kong are prohibited due diseases in the region, such as African swine fever, classical swine fever and swine vesicular disease. In order for Hong Kong pork products to enter the United States, shipments need permits from the US Department of Veterinary Services.

Hong Kong poultry products are likewise prohibited due to avian diseases like highly pathogenic avian influenza and virulent Newcastle disease.

“Louisville’s CBP Agriculture Specialists are focused on their mission to prevent entry of prohibited items from entering the United States,” said LaFonda Sutton-Burke, director of field operations, Chicago Field Office. “These seizures clearly show how critical their role is in preventing diseases from entering the United States.”