Eggs overtake fentanyl as the most smuggled item from Canada to the US
Eggs, not fentanyl, have become the most sought-after illegal import from Canada to the United States as prices continue to rise due to the outbreak of bird flu, according to a report by The Logic.
After analyzing official import and seizure data, the report revealed that US customs officers are now confiscating more poultry products, including eggs, than fentanyl—a drug at the center of the ongoing tariff war between the United States and Canada.
Rise in egg smuggling
The US has seen a 36% increase in people attempting to smuggle eggs into the country since October 2024, as prices soared during a period of avian flu outbreaks.
The US Customs and Border Protection Office in Detroit reported a 36% rise in egg smuggling attempts, while the San Diego office, near the Mexican border, noted a 158% surge in egg seizures.
Since October 2024, US customs officers have recorded 3,768 seizures of bird and poultry-related products at all US borders, compared to just 352 fentanyl seizures during the same period.
Eggs and unprocessed poultry products are banned in the US due to bird flu concerns. Anyone caught smuggling eggs could face a $300 fine.
Trade controversy and policy concerns
In response to the findings, Matthew Holmes, chief of policy at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said:
“As serious as combating illegal fentanyl is, its link to these trade decisions is highly questionable. It appears there are more eggs being smuggled into the US from Canada right now than fentanyl.”
The US egg crisis
While the entirety of North America has been affected by the spread of bird flu, Canada has managed the crisis significantly better than the United States. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has warned that egg prices will likely continue rising throughout the year.
US President Donald Trump has called the egg crisis “out of control” and blamed the situation on former President Joe Biden.
Billionaire Elon Musk, a close ally of Trump, also criticized Biden, accusing him of authorizing “an insane slaughter of 150 million egg-laying chickens.” However, the policy of reducing poultry populations is a USDA strategy that Trump himself has continued.
Last week, the USDA announced a $1 billion initiative to “explore temporary import options” to address the crisis. However, no formal agreement has been reached with Canada to help resolve the egg shortage.
