FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MIAMI -- John Walk, the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, visited Miami this week to observe U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) trade and agriculture operations and reaffirm USDA OIG’s commitment to combating agricultural trade fraud.
Walk visited PortMiami, CBP’s Miami Air Cargo operations and courier facilities, and the Miami International Mail Facility as part of the ongoing effort to combat agricultural trade fraud that enables smuggling, counterfeit labeling, false certifications, and evasion of import obligations involving agricultural goods.
“Agricultural trade fraud is an extremely serious problem that threatens America’s food safety, national security, and U.S. agricultural producers and consumers that OIG will firmly combat so that foreign products imported by fraud do not harm American national interests,” Walk said.
OIG recently participated in an investigation related to smuggling 6,500 pounds of prohibited agricultural products from China that ended up in America’s food system – the products were falsely labeled to evade detection. A separate investigation involved smuggling of biomaterial from China that scientists classify as a potential weapon of agroterrorism into the Midwest.
CBP discussed other instances of transit of agricultural goods by U.S. researchers at American academic institutions with known ties to researchers in adversarial nations.
Misclassification such as by labeling conventionally produced agricultural imports as organic cheats American producers and harms U.S. consumer confidence. OIG investigated the case of two Dubai entities that exported non-organic grain into the United States sold as certified organic that allowed them to charge higher prices. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland issued an indictment in this multimillion-dollar fraud scheme in 2023.
“OIG is committed to aggressively stepping up our efforts with federal partners to prevent agricultural trade fraud and support U.S. ag producers and consumers from deceptive trade practices,” Walk said. “I am grateful for CBP Miami’s important work to protect the nation and domestic market from fraud schemes perpetrated in conjunction with transnational actors that exploit American ag producers and consumers and look forward to extending OIG’s expertise and collaboration in this effort.”
Walk met with Miami Seaport Director Kemisha Sherrell, CBP Assistant Port Director Abel Serrano, Miami and Tampa field offices senior leadership, and CBP agricultural specialists. Walk was accompanied on the facility visits by Justin Fielder, USDA OIG Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Engel Tamayo, both based in Florida.
Media Contact USDA OIG
Carl (CJ) Hobbs
Congressional & Media Relations
USDA Office of Inspector General
202-720-9110