Los Angeles Alert U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists at the Los Angeles seaport discovered a dangerous new pest never before seen in the United States in a shipment of ceramic tile from Italy.

On July 17, the U.S. Department of Agriculture identified the bug as curculionidae, a species of weevil. The lone weevil, found July 16 by CBP under the tiles plastic cover, was placed in a vial of alcohol and sent to Los Angeles County USDA for identification.

The 3,366 pieces of ceramic tile were fumigated and released by CBP to the importer.

Had the weevil escaped discovery it could have done serious damage to Americas agriculture industry.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

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