The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency works hard to keep our borders safe. More often than not, they’re able to seize drugs or laundered money that have/has been hidden in unusual places such as a foozball table, people’s underpants, salt and pepper shakers, toys, etc. But recently they seized something that wasn’t drugs or money, and the K9 who found it probably REALLY wanted some…
K9 Hardy, a 6-year-old CPB Agriculture Detector and 3-year member of the “Beagle Brigade” at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport, recently sniffed something fishy in a bag coming from Ecuador. Surprisingly, it wasn’t cocaine or heroine, but this:
PC: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency
Yup, Hardy found a roasted pig’s head, wrapped in foil, in someone’s luggage. I bet his mouth was watering like crazy, huh?
Unfortunately, the U.S. prevents any pork or pork products from other continents from entering the country, in order to prevent the introduction of diseases such as swine fever, swine vesicular disease and foot and mouth disease. So agents seized the 2-pound pig head and destroyed it.
“Our best defense against destructive pests and animal diseases is to prevent the entry of prohibited agriculture products from entering the United States,” said Carey Davis, CBP Area Port Director for the Port of Atlanta. “This seizure at ATL illustrate the tremendous expertise of our four-legged K-9 partners in protecting the United States.”
As per CBP’s website, “The importation of fresh, dried or canned meats or meat products is generally not allowed from most foreign countries into the United States. This includes products that have been prepared with meat. Beef and beef products from a country not known to be infected with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) generally are enterable. However, like all other food items the meat must be unopened and commercially labeled indicating the country of origin and meat type. In very few cases swine and swine products can enter the United States. Commercially canned pork is allowed if the CBP officer can determine from the label that the meat was cooked.”
Yeah…a pig head wrapped in foil doesn’t pass muster.
Surprisingly, this wasn’t the first time a beagle has intercepted a pig at ATL…around Thanksgiving 2016, a K9 Beagle named Joey found a whole roasted pig in the baggage of a passenger from Peru.
PC: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency
I totally get it, but wow, what a total waste of a good roasted pig. Sorry, pups….you still can’t have any.
*** Thanks to Norman J. for the heads up about this topic!
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
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