Monkey Carcass, Illegal Meat Seized At O'Hare

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said agriculture specialists at Chicago O’Hare intercepted a monkey carcass and 125 pounds of prohibited meat on April 11. (cbp.gov) The monkey carcass was found in the suitcase of a traveler arriving from Cameroon after an X-ray flagged an anomaly and officers sent the passenger to secondary agriculture inspection. (cbp.gov) Customs officials said the monkey remains were detained and destroyed under partner agency directives because of what the agency called significant human health concerns. (cbp.gov) In the second case, a traveler from Liberia carried eight boxes that inspectors said hid meat, bones, and hair inside dried seafood. The traveler told officers the concealed meat was beef. (cbp.gov) Customs said specialists seized 125 pounds of prohibited ruminant meat from that baggage, along with one pound of fresh leaves and four types of seeds for planting. (cbp.gov) The agency says some meat is barred from entry because animal products can carry diseases that threaten livestock and agriculture. Customs specifically cited foot-and-mouth disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease. (cbp.gov 1) (cbp.gov 2) U.S. rules require arriving travelers to declare meats, plants, seeds, animals, and related products in checked bags or carry-ons. Customs says first-time civil penalties for undeclared, non-commercial prohibited agricultural items can reach $1,000. (cbp.gov) Wild game meat faces extra scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, according to Customs guidance. For personal use, wild game meat from outside Canada is either prohibited or restricted depending on the animal disease risk in the country of origin. (cbp.gov) Chicago inspectors have reported similar seizures before. In January 2023, Customs said O’Hare agriculture specialists in one month stopped 5,162 prohibited items, including dried rodents, dried cow skin, sausages, plants, and wild game meat. (cbp.gov) Michael Pfeiffer, the acting director of field operations for the Chicago Field Office, said the volume of prohibited items intercepted each day shows how often those checks catch undeclared food and animal products before they enter the country. (cbp.gov)