Starting from the spring of 2025, a bewildering phenomenon emerged at the US border: According to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, from October 2024 to early March this year, the number of "interception incidents" for eggs and egg products far exceeded those of the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl or marijuana.
Golden Eggs
Specific numbers show that egg product interception incidents reached 5,572, while fentanyl-related seizures were only 413. Looking at the first two months of 2025, the data is even more shocking: egg-related seizures reached 3,254, while fentanyl was only 134.
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It must be clarified that this statistic compares "incident numbers," not the total value or volume of smuggled goods. However, this bizarre phenomenon is mainly due to the historically high egg prices in the US, with California seeing prices breaking $8 to $10 per dozen, while Mexico, just across the border, often has eggs at less than $2 per dozen. Such a stark price difference has fueled egg smuggling.
However, the claim that "egg smuggling exceeds drug smuggling" can be misleading, as it compares "smuggling incident numbers," not total value or harm. Egg smuggling is mostly an individual behavior, with many people unaware of regulations, unlike organized drug smuggling. Some US residents have discovered that many of those selling cheap smuggled eggs are marketing organizations composed of Chinese immigrants.
US Egg Crisis
The current US egg price crisis is primarily caused by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Since 2022, the epidemic has led to the culling of over 126 million egg-laying hens, with tens of millions affected just from late 2024 to early 2025. The sharp decline in egg-laying hens has caused supply shortages, driving prices to historical highs, with the national average approaching $6.23 per dozen, and California even exceeding $10.
Other factors such as inflation, supply chain issues, rising feed costs, and animal welfare regulations in some states (like California's Prop 12) have further intensified price pressures. Additionally, market suspicions of potential price manipulation by large producers have prompted calls for investigation. The US Department of Agriculture has invested $1 billion to address the crisis.
Massive Price Difference Between US and Mexico
In Mexican border cities like Tijuana, egg prices are typically below $2-3 per dozen. Even considering price increases in northern Mexico due to US demand (with reports of 70 pesos per kilogram, about $2.8 per dozen), the price difference remains significant. This arbitrage opportunity, with potential profit margins of 200-400%, is enough to attract egg farmers to smuggle eggs across the border.
Tariffs Are Not the Main Cause
Claims that egg smuggling is due to US tariffs are unfounded. The current USMCA agreement typically allows Mexican eggs entering the US duty-free if they meet origin rules, requiring only customs declaration and cargo inspection. Despite Trump's rhetoric, the US has not recently imposed specific tariffs on Mexican eggs. In fact, the Mexican government has temporarily exempted import tariffs on some goods, including eggs, to curb inflation.
Eggs vs. Drugs
There is currently no direct evidence supporting claims that major Mexican drug cartels (like the Sinaloa Cartel) have massively shifted to egg smuggling. Previously, Mexican drug lords liked using drones to smuggle small quantities of drugs, and now these drones' prices have soared, with eggs replacing their previous cargo. Ordinary egg smuggling groups seem to be competing with drug lords in purchasing drones.
While egg smuggling profit margins (200-400%) seem high, claims that it's "more profitable than drugs" are severely exaggerated in terms of absolute profit and overall scale. Drug trafficking in the Americas is worth hundreds of billions annually, with single drug shipments far exceeding egg profits. The risks and penalties are also entirely different. Egg smuggling mainly results in fines, while drug trafficking faces long-term imprisonment or even the death penalty.
As US egg prices gradually stabilize, smuggling activities are expected to cool down. However, this issue reveals border problems worth pondering: during the pandemic, it was masks; during the AI boom, graphics cards; now eggs. What will be the next item more attractive than drugs?
