3 Accused of Smuggling Exotic Fruit Into State

Three people have been arrested and charged with produce smuggling--the kind of smuggling that authorities suspect is the way Mediterranean fruit flies get into California, state Department of Food and Agriculture officials reported Friday.

No evidence of Medflies was found in the 1,260 pounds of produce seized after the arrest in San Jose of wholesale produce dealers Thiet Nguyen, (Susan) Ung Thi Tchang and Tai Tran.

But in Tran’s home in Gilroy, state inspectors said, they found the pupae of another harmful pest, the Magnolia White Scale insect, as well as other less-damaging insects. The Magnolia White Scale is considered a “major A-rated pest” not native to California, according to Gera Curry, a Department of Food and Agriculture information officer.

The three suspects, picked up after a citizen tipped authorities, were charged with bringing prohibited produce into California. Authorities said the produce was trucked from Florida to Nevada and then was transferred to other vehicles for illegal entry into California. The suspects were being held on bail of $25,000 each.

The smuggled goods consisted of mangoes, boniatas (a kind of yam) and longans (a tropical fruit).

The suspects arrested late Wednesday “knew what they were doing,” Curry said. “They avoided the border inspection stations and used back roads.”

The suspects face potential fines of $10,000 to $25,000. The charges are misdemeanors but could have been felony offenses punishable by imprisonment under a new state law had Medflies been found.

The new statute, authored by Sen. Ruben Ayala (D-Chino), was prompted by an unsigned letter sent to Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley by someone who threatened to smuggle Medflies into the region if the malathion spraying wasn’t stopped.

The law makes it a felony for any person to willfully or knowingly bring a Medfly into California or to transport it within the state.

The law also makes it illegal to bring untreated fruit into the state. Untreated fruit generally is turned back or confiscated when found at the border inspection stations.

Curry said the three arrests resulted from a tip from a Nevada woman, who reportedly saw the suspects loading their truck with the produce.

The woman could receive up to a $10,000 reward if her information leads to their successful prosecution, according to Curry. The reward money is donated by growers.

Citizens who have information can telephone confidentially 800-78-CRIME to become eligible for similar rewards, according to Curry.