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The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported an unusual phenomenon at border crossings: raw egg seizures currently outnumber those of fentanyl, a synthetic drug considered lethal and highly addictive.
According to the figures released this week, egg interceptions at the border have increased by 48% compared to the same period last year, a rise driven by the skyrocketing prices of the product, amid a crisis caused by avian influenza.
Only at the San Diego Field Office, authorities detected a 158% increase in this type of seizure since the end of the last fiscal year in September.
In total, the CBP has made 5,572 seizures of egg products so far in the current fiscal year, showing an upward trend in the same time period compared to the 10,604 seizures made in 2022, which reached 16,541 in 2023.
In contrast, fentanyl seizures have steadily decreased. In February 2025, there were 63 seizures recorded, compared to 95 in February of the previous year, marking the lowest monthly level in at least three years.
Health authorities have also reported a decrease in overdose deaths: 84,076 in the 12-month period ending in October 2024, significantly lower than the peak of 114,664 deaths recorded in August 2023.
The craze for eggs in the U.S. originates from the devastating spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1. Since 2022, over 168 million birds have been affected, including commercial poultry, backyard flocks, and hobbyist birds.
The outbreak has particularly affected egg production farms, many of which operate on a large scale, housing over a million birds per facility.
“Only a few affected operations are needed for egg prices to rise dramatically,” explained to NPR Amy Hagerman, an associate professor of agricultural economics at Oklahoma State University.
As a result, consumers are faced with exorbitant prices, with dozens of eggs costing more than $13 in some supermarkets, compared to $3.98 during promotional offers.
In light of the shortage, the U.S. has begun efforts to import eggs from countries such as Turkey, South Korea, and several European nations, including Denmark, Germany, Italy, and Poland.
However, strict U.S. health regulations—which require eggs to be disinfected before reaching consumers—could complicate imports from Europe, where fresh eggs are typically sold unwashed.
Meanwhile, the illegal trafficking of eggs continues to rise, driven by demand and high prices. Although it is not an illegal product in itself, bringing undeclared eggs into the U.S. is prohibited for health reasons, and authorities have stepped up surveillance at border crossings.
Canada and Mexico strengthened their borders in coordination with the U.S. to combat fentanyl and avoid sanctions
The increase in egg seizures at the U.S. border coincides with a redesign of security policy in North America.
At the beginning of 2025, both Canada and Mexico announced extraordinary border reinforcement measures in direct response to the pressure exerted by the administration of Donald Trump.
The government of Canada, then led by Justin Trudeau, presented a plan valued at 1.3 billion dollars to strengthen its border with the U.S., including the deployment of new helicopters, advanced technology, and additional personnel.
In addition, the creation of a joint task force with the United States to combat organized crime and fentanyl trafficking was agreed upon. As part of the agreement, Trump temporarily suspended the imposition of new tariffs on Canadian products for 30 days.
For its part, Mexico deployed 10,000 soldiers to its northern border as part of an agreement between President Claudia Sheinbaum and Trump.
The measure aims to curb both irregular migration and drug trafficking, primarily fentanyl. In response, Trump also paused the imposition of tariffs on Mexican products for a month, during which both governments began bilateral negotiations on security and trade.
These actions reflect a coordinated shift in North America's border strategy, where combating fentanyl trafficking has become a shared priority, while unexpected phenomena such as egg smuggling are beginning to emerge as collateral consequences of internal health and economic crises.
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