A passenger arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo was caught at Logan Airport last month, attempting to smuggle the mummified remains of four monkeys into the United States, authorities said. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) K9 unit, including a dog named Buddey, was screening luggage when it alerted officers to a suitcase from Delta flight 225 coming via Paris.
The bag was declared by the passenger to contain nothing but dried fish. A subsequent X-ray of the luggage backed up the passenger's claim, but a physical inspection revealed the truth. Inside, officers found four deceased and dehydrated monkeys among the fish, according to a CBP news release.
Meat from wild animals, also known as "bushmeat," can be a source of infectious diseases, including the Ebola virus. The CDC, responsible for such biological threats, was immediately contacted. They ordered the seizure of the luggage and directed that it be either destroyed or returned to France. The 4 kilograms of bushmeat, which has now been detained, poses potential health risks and is banned from entry into the U.S.
"The potential dangers posed by bringing bushmeat into the United States are real," stated Julio Caravia, Area Port Director – CBP Boston.
