Egg Seizures at U.S. Border Now Outpace Fentanyl in 2025

In an unexpected development, U.S. border authorities have intercepted more egg products than fentanyl so far in 2025. Data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) highlights a growing concern at border crossings: the illegal import of eggs.

While the U.S. government continues to spotlight fentanyl trafficking as a priority, the volume of egg product seizures has significantly surpassed drug-related seizures this year.

What’s Behind the Rise in Egg Smuggling?

The increase in egg seizures stems from two key factors:

• High egg prices in the U.S.
• Widespread avian flu outbreaks impacting domestic poultry farms

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the price for a dozen eggs in February reached US$5.90, nearly double last year’s average. In some areas like California, prices have soared close to US$10. Prices are expected to increase another 41.1% by the end of 2025.

Meanwhile, in Canada, a dozen eggs cost C$4.89 (about US$3.41), making them much cheaper and tempting to bring across the border.

Seizure Numbers: Eggs vs. Fentanyl

CBP data for the first two months of 2025 shows:

• 3,254 egg-related interceptions, up from 1,508 during the same period in 2024
• 134 fentanyl seizures, down from 197 the previous year

By March, the agency had recorded 5,572 egg product seizures—more than 13 times the number of fentanyl-related incidents.

Why Are Eggs Restricted?

Bringing fresh eggs or raw poultry into the U.S. is illegal without proper documentation, due to the risk of transmitting diseases like:

• Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
• Virulent Newcastle Disease

These viruses can devastate poultry populations. CBP says even items like used egg cartons or bird cages can pose a risk.

According to USDA regulations, travelers may only bring egg products into the U.S. if they meet the following criteria:

• Commercially packaged, shelf-stable, and cooked
• Unopened and properly labeled
• Inspected by authorities at the border

Travelers unaware of these rules may face confiscation and potential penalties.

Canada-U.S. Trade Tensions Add Fuel to the Fire

The increase in egg seizures comes amid trade tensions between Canada and the U.S. President Donald Trump cited fentanyl as a reason for imposing new tariffs on Canadian imports, though less than 1% of U.S. fentanyl seizures occur at the Canadian border.

In January, U.S. border officials seized only 13.6 grams of fentanyl from the northern border. Across all of 2024, just 241 out of 4,376 fentanyl seizures took place at the Canada-U.S. boundary.

Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed the claim earlier in March, stating that Canada is not a significant source of fentanyl and that seizures had dropped 97% between December 2024 and January 2025.

Expert Perspective: Egg Supply and Biosecurity

Bruce Muirhead, policy chair at Egg Farmers of Canada, attributes the surge in egg smuggling to the U.S. poultry sector’s vulnerability. He notes that large-scale farms, like those in Iowa, must euthanize entire flocks when outbreaks occur.

“Millions of eggs are wiped from the U.S. inventory when a major farm is hit with avian flu,” Muirhead said in a CTV Your Morning interview.

In contrast, Canada’s supply management system keeps egg production aligned with domestic consumption. While this minimizes price volatility, it also limits the amount available for export.

The U.S. border is seeing a new kind of trafficking trend in 2025: eggs, not opioids. Driven by price spikes, avian flu disruptions, and misinformed travelers, egg product seizures have now outpaced fentanyl cases.

Travelers should review U.S. agricultural import rules before crossing the border, especially when bringing food products. For official guidance, visit the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection websites.

As food insecurity and global disease threats continue to intersect with trade and immigration policies, enforcement trends at the border may keep shifting.

More…

• https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/article/us-border-officials-have-caught-more-people-with-eggs-than-fentanyl-this-year
• https://www.cbsnews.com/news/egg-products-fentanyl-border-2025
• https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/21/eggflation-us-mexico-fines