A man was arrested after re-entering Florida while bypassing an inspection station and being accused of illegally importing livestock.
Florida officials said the man bypassed a Florida Agricultural Inspection Station after being denied entry.
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the arrest of Roger Rodriguez Vega, of Maitland, Florida, who allegedly re-entered Florida with livestock after being denied entry at a Florida agricultural inspection station for failing to provide the veterinary inspection documentation required under Florida’s New World Screwworm emergency protections. The animals, 24 sheep and goats, originated from Texas, a high-risk area subject to Florida’s enhanced New World Screwworm import restrictions.
“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 Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “I commend the hard work of our agricultural law enforcement officers, who serve as the front line of defense against devastating animal diseases and pests as well as criminal activity. 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.”
According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement’s (OALE) investigation, Rodriguez Vega arrived at the Pensacola Agricultural Inspection Station transporting sheep and goats from Texas but failed to provide a valid Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, which is required under Florida law and the department’s emergency New World Screwworm protections. OALE officers refused entry into Florida and advised Rodriguez Vega that he could not lawfully enter the state with the animals without the required documentation.
Because the livestock originated from a New World Screwworm infested zone, OALE issued a statewide Be On the Lookout (BOLO) alert.
Investigators later determined that Rodriguez Vega had re-entered Florida through Georgia, bypassing the agricultural inspection station. OALE officers located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop, during which Rodriguez Vega again failed to produce a valid Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection for the 24 animals.
Rodriguez Vega was arrested and charged with: 24 counts of Unlawful Entry of Animals into the State, and one count of Resisting an Officer Without Violence.
Check online for the latest information on the New World Screwworm, zone designations, and animal movement requirements.
Although there have been no detections of New World Screwworm in Florida, FDACS continues to coordinate closely with the United States Department of Agriculture, state animal health officials, veterinarians, livestock producers, and wildlife partners to monitor developments and respond as needed.
The New World Screwworm is a destructive parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals. While eradicated from the United States decades ago, recent detections in Mexico and the southern United States have prompted heightened vigilance and preventive measures.
FDACS encourages veterinarians, livestock owners, animal shelters, rescue organizations, and animal health professionals to remain vigilant and immediately report suspected cases.
FDACS is also emphasizing the importance of early detection and reporting. FDACS has created resources to help animal owners and the veterinarian community identify signs of screwworm infestation, which typically appear as slow-healing wounds containing larvae. Prompt reporting is critical to protect both animal health and the state’s agricultural economy.
