Border produce scam may spark harmful ripple effect

[sabra]

Source: Houston Chronicle

Suicide comes as inspectors are accused of letting infested vegetables and flowers into U.S.

LAREDO — The shot from a .45-caliber handgun thundered through the faded house trailer in this border town, and a federal inspector fell dead.

Rafael Edmundo Melo Jr., 40, killed himself the day after appearing in federal court to face charges that he had allowed truckloads of vegetables and flowers infested with harmful pests to enter the United States from Mexico without proper fumigation.

While the death of the veteran plant inspector brought pain and sadness to his family, the conspiracy with which he and two other U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors were accused had the potential to cause further damage to the nation's agricultural industry.

The scheme, which went on at least three years and ended when the defendants were arrested in April, could have decimated dozens of Texas agricultural industries, government and industry officials say. Some experts believe the effects of the tainted shipments could still harm crops.

"It's a big deal," said Ray Prewett, president of Texas Citrus Mutual in McAllen and executive vice president of the Texas Vegetable Association.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5898444.html

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. Delete

Incorrect statement, sorry about that.

[DCKit]

2. Remember the little girl who was stung by a scorpian at the supermarket?

And that's not the worst that could happen.