U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 230 pounds of cheese on Friday at the Santa Teresa border crossing. (Photo courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection.)
It's government cheese now.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 230 pounds of "contraband queso" during the weekend at the Santa Teresa border crossing, officials with the agency said.
The Mexican cheese was seized after CBP officials determined the amount of cheese was apparently way too much for personal use and large enough to be deemed a commercial-size import.
The shipment could have been turned into thousands of quesadillas and enchiladas once it hit kitchens across America.
CBP officers found the cheese late Friday night inside three ice chests in a pickup driven by a man from Aurora, Colo. CBP officials said the 50-year-old man was order to pay a $300 fine.
The cheese was destroyed,
Reporter
Daniel Borunda
officials said.
"Individuals can import personal quantities of cheese -- something in the 10-pound range," Joane Thale-Lembo, CBP Santa Teresa port director said in a statement. "This shipment certainly exceeded that quantity and was therefore seized and destroyed."
CBP officials did not disclose the type of cheese that was seized, but it appeared to be asadero, which can also be used on nachos, salads, burritos, chiles rellenos, chile con queso and hundreds of popular recipes.
Officials said the cheese was destroyed either in an incinerator or a garbage disposal device -- which would make it either melted cheese or shredded cheese.