Technology Slice Blog

Grass Reindeer Siezed Airport - US customs officers seized a pair of decorative Christmas reindeer found in a passenger's luggage at Los Angeles' airport, officials said Thursday.The festive animal figures, discovered in the bags of a traveler arriving from El Salvador, were made from grass material banned by US import rules for agricultural products. "Upon inspection, CBP agriculture specialists found that the reindeer were made of grass material which contained seeds that could be propagated," said the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency. "The blades of the grass also showed possible disease symptoms," it added, saying the passenger did not have a plant health certificate for the yuletide decorations. Grass Reindeer Siezed Airport CBP acting director for LA Carlos Martel added: "Our agriculture specialists protect America's agriculture by using their scientific expertise to prevent the introduction of harmful pests and plant dis...