The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Galveston County office is raising urgent concerns about unmarked, unsolicited seed packages arriving in local residents’ mailboxes—packages that may pose a serious environmental threat if not handled correctly.

Brock Sanford, the County Extension Agent for Agriculture & Natural Resources, confirmed with KGTX 7 that two separate incidents have been reported in Galveston County involving mysterious seed shipments, believed to have originated in China. These packages, often appearing unmarked or labeled deceptively, are arriving unsolicited and without explanation.

Authorities are warning residents not to plant, throw away, or flush the seeds. Improper disposal could allow these potentially invasive species to take root—either in landfills or local ecosystems—threatening native plant life and agriculture.

“We don’t know what these seeds are, and that makes them dangerous,” said Sanford on a call to KGTX. “If they are invasive species, even a few seeds in the wrong place could have a significant environmental impact.”

A Growing National Trend
This issue is not unique to Galveston County. Similar reports of mysterious seed mailings have emerged across the United States in recent years, leading to investigations by the USDA and Department of Homeland Security. While some cases were previously dismissed as “brushing scams”—where sellers send cheap items to boost online ratings—the seeds now appear to be part of a broader pattern potentially linked to data harvesting from e-commerce platforms.

Sanford notes that customers who have used online retailers such as TEMU, SHEIN, and Facebook Marketplace may unknowingly be sharing their mailing information with bad actors overseas. These companies have not been confirmed as complicit, but investigators believe buyer data could be intercepted or misused by third parties.

What To Do If You Receive Seeds
Residents who receive these packages should follow these safety steps:

• Do not open, plant, or discard the seeds.
• Place the package (unopened if possible) in a sealed plastic bag.
• You can also contact the Galveston County AgriLife Extension office for further instruction.
• Additionally, you can contact the Texas Department of Agriculture or the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

This developing situation highlights the need for awareness and cautious handling of unknown agricultural materials. Authorities emphasize that what may seem like a harmless package can become an environmental hazard if mishandled.

For more information or to report unsolicited seeds, contact the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Galveston County office at (281) 309-5064.

Story by Stephen Bernardoni