Many people are not intentionally 
trying to circumvent the law when 
they attempt to bring in a prohibi- 
ted item. But from time to time, our 
inspectors discover large ship- 
ments of prohibited agricultural 
commodities or goods subject to 
certain restrictions or treatment on 
import. PPQ has organized special 
teams of officers and investigators 
to pursue individuals who smuggle 
high-risk produce. The Florida 
Interdiction and Smuggling Team 
(FIST) and Closing the Los 
Angeles Area Medfly Pathway 
(CLAMP) Team have identified and 
gathered evidence against many 
alleged smugglers. 
All prohibited items seized 
from inspections are destroyed 
immediately. 
Dogs in USDA's Beagle 
Brigade sniff luggage and sit 
when they detect an odor 
that might come from 
concealed agricultural 
material. (USDA photo by 
Larry Rana.) 
Emergency Response: 
What Happens If a Pest or 
Disease Gets Past the Front 
Line? 
No matter how effectively PPQ 
inspectors cope with incoming 
international passengers, mail, 
and cargo, occasionally an exotic 
pest or disease outbreak occurs. 
PPQ takes immediate action to 
protect U.S. plant and animal 
resources by eradicating the pest 
or disease and allaying fears of 
our trading partners and the public 
about the health of U.S. 
agriculture. 
PPQ has a special cadre of people 
who deal with introductions of 
exotic plant pests. Known as 
Rapid Response Teams, these 
groups have been mobilized on 
several occasions to combat costly 
infestations of the Asian 
longhorned beetle, Mediterranean 
fruit fly (Medfly), and Asian gypsy 
moth. Rapid Response Teams also 
swung into action when the 
destructive “A” strain of citrus 
canker was found in Florida 
Orange groves and when Karnal 
