U.S. Customs and Border Protection Seizes Monkey Carcass and Prohibited Meats at O'Hare International Airport
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago intercepted a monkey carcass and 125 pounds of prohibited ruminant meat, along with prohibited fresh leaves and seeds, from a traveler arriving from Cameroon. The discovery was made during a secondary inspection after an X-ray detected an anomaly in the traveler's baggage. CBP agriculture specialists found meat, bones, and hair concealed within dried seafood in eight boxes. The traveler admitted the concealed meat was beef. While seafood is generally allowed, ruminant meat from certain regions is banned due to the risk of diseases like Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and Foot and Mouth Disease. The monkey remains were detained and destroyed due to significant human health concerns, in accordance with governing agency directives. The traveler also had four types of prohibited seeds for planting.
