The alleged bypass of an inspection station ended in the arrest of a livestock hauler in Florida.
Roger Rodriguez Vega of Maitland, Fla., who was hauling sheep and goats from Texas, failed to provide a valid certificate of veterinary inspection at the Pensacola Agricultural Inspections Station, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Since the livestock originated in Texas, a high-risk area subject to the new world screwworm restrictions in Florida, the veterinary inspection is required.
Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) officers denied Rodriguez Vega entry into the state due to insufficient documentation and issued a statewide alert since the livestock originated from an infested zone.
Rather than obtain the necessary documentation, investigators allege that Rodriguez Vega later entered the state through Georgia, bypassing any agricultural inspection station.
Officers located the vehicle and arrested Rodriguez Vega during a traffic stop after he again failed to produce the veterinary inspection.
Rodriguez Vega was charged with 24 counts of unlawful entry of animals into the state and one count of resisting an officer without violence.
“Florida has taken a proactive and aggressive approach to protecting our livestock, agricultural industry, pets, wildlife, and food supply from the very real threat of new world screwworm, and we will not tolerate anyone who breaks the law and attempts to circumvent those protections,” said Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Wilton Simpson.
Florida’s Department of Agriculture said no cases have been detected in the state, but urges veterinarians, livestock owners, animal shelters and all animal health professionals to stay alert and report suspected cases immediately.
Zone designations, animal movement requirements and other information related to the new world screwworm are available online.
“This arrest also serves as a warning to others that we will hold accountable anyone who intentionally violates Florida law and threatens our state’s farmers and ranchers,” Simpson said.
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