Shamrock Seeds Seized, Irish Contraband Denied Entry at Dulles

by Tina Kells | March 16, 2009 at 11:30 am

190 views | 0 Recommendations | 0 comments

Just in time to make St. Patrick's Day headlines federal agents have seized 16 packages of shamrock seeds from Irish travelers. The contraband shamrock seeds were being brought into the United States illegally, smuggled along with pork and beef products.

Who knew that smuggling shamrock seeds was such a big problem????

Federal agents at Dulles International Airport have seized shamrock seeds from travelers arriving from Ireland — just days before St. Patrick's Day.

Customs and Border Patrol spokesman Stephen Sapp said the agents targeted the Aer Lingus flight on Thursday and had been searching for passengers carrying prohibited meat.

He says 16 packets of shamrock seeds were found among some pork and beef. A permit is needed to import the seeds.

Both the meat and shamrock seeds were destroyed.