Eggs from Mexico — banned for more than a decade in the US because of avian flu danger — are being seized at the border as US prices soar

• Americans are finding creative ways to obtain cheaper eggs, as prices soar
• There has been a 108% increase in egg seizures over recent months, according to Border Report

Officials at the US-Mexico border have seen a recent increase in attempts to smuggle unusual contraband into the US — eggs.

As egg prices continue to rise in the US, some are attempting to bring cheaper eggs illegally from Mexico over the border. But transporting uncooked eggs poses a risk of disease and could cost smugglers thousands in fines, officials say.

Raw eggs from Mexico have been banned for more than a decade due to the risk of avian flu in commercial poultry in the country, according to the USDA.

"The San Diego Field Office has recently noticed an increase in the number of eggs intercepted at our ports of entry," San Diego customs official Jennifer De La O tweeted Tuesday. "As a reminder, uncooked eggs are prohibited entry from Mexico into the U.S. Failure to declare agriculture items can result in penalties of up to $10,000."

—Director of Field Operations Jennifer De La O (@DFOSanDiegoCA) January 18, 2023

US egg prices have soared in recent months due to an outbreak of avian flu that began early last year, affecting 58 million chickens. Prices jumped nearly 50% in November 2022 compared to the same month in 2021, Insider's Alex Bitter reported last month.

Prices in Mexico can be less than half of what some in the US pay, NPR reported.

While the prospect of lower egg prices is tempting, customs officials have noticed the increase. Seizures of eggs at the US-Mexico border rose 108% from October to December in 2022, according to Border Report.

"My advice is, don't bring them over," Customs and Border Protection Supervisory Agriculture Specialist Charles Payne told Border Report. "If you fail to declare them or try to smuggle them, you face civil penalties."

Payne added that high fines are intended for undeclared commercial shipments, and individuals shipping modest amounts of eggs are likely to face fines closer to $300, according to Border Report.