Dog Alerts to Mislabeled Mangoes Charges Filed Against Bombino Express

Sacramento, California: A parcel inspection dog named C.C., working last year near Ontario International Airport, sniffed out a mislabeled box of mangoes from India. The detection set in motion a year-long investigation culminating in a lawsuit brought by the California Attorney General’s Office against an international shipping company. Bombino Express was the label on the package.
The complaint alleges that the company regularly shipped mislabeled produce to skirt state and federal inspection and treatment regulations designed to protect against invasive species.
“This is an important example of the risk we face from invasive species introduction each day in California,” said CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura. “This type of situation is one of several ways that new spot infestations of exotic pests develop. We are pleased to partner with the Attorney General’s office in the pursuit of this lawsuit, and we salute the excellent work of parcel inspection dogs and their handlers.”
According to state and federal law, fruit imported from India must be treated before being sent to the United States. The packages must then be accompanied by certificates stating that they were treated. This apparently did not occur for the mislabeled mangoes.
C.C. was rescued from an animal shelter in Florida and trained as a parcel sniff dog by the USDA. The dog and her handler, Michael Cochrane, regularly screen parcels shipped into California via Ontario International Airport.
21/07/08 Imperial Valley News, CA, USA

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Categories: Airports Jul 2008, Foreign Jul 2008