In a strange and unsettling turn of events, mysterious seed packages from China have once again surfaced in Texas, raising concerns among agricultural officials and law enforcement.
The state of Texas is urging residents to report unsolicited packages of seeds or liquid that arrive in the mail, warning they might be harmful.
A resident in Clute, a suburb of Houston, received a mystery package of unidentified seeds and a container of liquid from China, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said.
These unsolicited seed packets, often mislabeled as jewelry or other harmless items, first appeared in mailboxes across the U.S. in 2020, sparking fears of invasive species and potential biosecurity threats.
Now, with their return, authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and avoid planting the seeds.
According to reports from the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), residents have recently started receiving unexpected seed packages again, similar to the incidents reported in 2020.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has warned that planting these seeds could introduce harmful pests, diseases, or invasive species into the state’s ecosystem.
“We don’t know what’s in these packages, and we can’t risk introducing something that could threaten our farmers, ranchers, or the environment,” Miller said in a public statement (Texas Department of Agriculture, 2024).
While the origins of these packages remain unclear, experts believe they could be linked to a “brushing” scam, where sellers send unsolicited items to boost fake online reviews. However, officials are not ruling out potential agricultural threats.
Government agencies, including the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), have expressed concerns that some of these seeds may be contaminated with plant diseases or could introduce aggressive invasive species.
In 2020, USDA officials tested some of the seeds and found a mix of harmless and potentially dangerous plant species, including mustard, cabbage, morning glory, and even weeds known to harm U.S. crops (USDA, 2020).
The resurgence of these unsolicited packages has raised fears that the same risks could apply in 2024.
Federal and state authorities are currently investigating the source of these recent seed packages.
Some experts suspect that the packages may not necessarily come from China but could be routed through Chinese addresses. Others believe this could be part of an organized scheme targeting multiple states.
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is working closely with customs officials to track and analyze these shipments.
As of now, no definitive conclusions have been made, but experts are urging people to remain cautious and report any suspicious deliveries.
