Boston, MA – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, aided by a diligent K9 unit, intercepted an individual attempting to smuggle mummified monkey remains into the United States. The discovery occurred on January 8, 2024, at Logan Airport, where the passenger arrived from the Democratic Republic of Congo via Delta flight 225 from Paris.
The CBP K9, named Buddey, signaled his handler to a specific piece of luggage during a routine screening.
Despite the passenger’s claim that the bag contained only dried fish, an X-ray suggested the same.
However, a thorough inspection revealed the dead and dehydrated bodies of four monkeys among the contents.
Recognizing the health risks associated with bushmeat, which includes meat from wild animals such as nonhuman primates and can transmit diseases like Ebola, CBP took immediate action. They contacted the Center for Disease Control (CDC), which instructed that the 4 kilograms of bushmeat be seized and marked for destruction. The CDC also requested Delta Airlines to either destroy or return the contaminated luggage to France.
Julio Caravia, Area Port Director for CBP Boston, emphasized the critical role of CBP’s K9 units and Agricultural Specialists in protecting the United States from potential public health threats.