Almost $8 million in illegally imported honey from China has been seized by U.S. Customs and Homeland Security in Houston over the past two years.
The Houston Chronicle reports that since October last year, 660 drums of Chinese honey that was smuggled through Latvia have been taken by authorities. China is the world's leading producer of honey.
Before the latest seizures, federal agents disrupted a network of honey importers who managed to evade $180 million in antidumping duties, which are penalties placed on imports that are priced at less than fair value. The penalty is imposed top provide relief to domestic industries that may be hurt by the low import values.
According to Richard Halverson, with Homeland Security's Houston investigations unit, the city has become a focal point for illegal honey imports, but officials are not sure why.
