America's egg shortage worsens by the week. Supermarkets nationwide are running out of eggs as prices hyperinflate. Egg arbitrage is rising as people attempt to smuggle egg and poultry products across Mexico–US border for resale in the States where they can reap hefty profits.
Eggs in rural Mexico!
— Eric S Neitzel (@EricNeitzel) January 15, 2023
100.00 pesos = USD 5.33 for a flat
3.80 pesos for six eggs = .20 cents USD
I think I need to get into the egg smuggling business! pic.twitter.com/6Qk7JEfctS
US Customs and Border Protection reported a 108% increase in egg and poultry seizures at land ports on the border from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31. The uptick in egg smuggling comes as retail prices erupt in the US as the avian flu forced producers to cull tens of millions of birds and egg-laying hens over the last year.
"My advice is, don't bring them over.
"If you fail to declare them or try to smuggle them, you face civil penalties," said CBP Supervisory Agriculture Specialist Charles Payne
Egg seizures are so rampant that CBP tweeted that smugglers will be slapped with $10,000 fines.
The San Diego Field Office has recently noticed an increase in the number of eggs intercepted at our ports of entry. 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. pic.twitter.com/ukMUvyKDmL
— Director of Field Operations Jennifer De La O (@DFOSanDiegoCA) January 18, 2023
People have realized there are huge profits in buying a 30-count carton of eggs at $3.40 in Juarez, Mexico, and reselling them in the US.
It's only a matter of time before cartels figure out about this lucrative trade.
