At Boston Logan International Airport, Customs and Border Protection agents discovered an unexpected item in a traveler's bag. Initially declared as dried fish, upon closer inspection, it turned out to be mummified remains, including heads, of four monkeys, according to a statement from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The incident occurred during a routine security screening for passengers on Thursday. A canine officer named Buddey detected the presence of the deceased and dehydrated monkeys within the luggage of a traveler who had recently returned to the U.S. from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The importation of raw or minimally processed meat from specific wild animals, commonly referred to as bushmeat, is prohibited from entering the United States primarily due to health risks.
According to Julio Caravia, the area port director at CBP Boston, bushmeat may harbor pathogens, including the Ebola virus, which can lead to illness.
On Thursday, the traveler was found carrying approximately 8 pounds of bushmeat. The Centers for Disease Control instructed the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to dispose of it. Agents at various airports across the country have come across different types of meats. For instance, in 2022, authorities at Washington Dulles Airport seized charred bat meat. Similarly, in 2019, officers at O'Hare International Airport intercepted approximately 32 pounds of rat meat.
