Snake meat seized at Dulles International Airport

DULLES, Va. ( DC News Now ) — Agriculture specialists from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized over two pounds of snake meat from a traveler at Dulles International Airport (IAD) on Sept. 11, according to CBP.

The agency said that CBP agriculture detector dog Freddie, a four-year-old beagle, alerted authorities to the baggage of the traveler, who arrived from Equatorial Guinea.

In Equatorial Guinea, snake meat is a routine source of protein; however, according to CBP, U.S. agriculture laws prohibit the importation of several plant and animal products.

After Freddie alerted specialists, they examined the baggage and found the snake meat inside. They then consulted with inspectors from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who informed them that importing snake meat without the necessary documentation or permits violates several laws, including provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Lacey Act.

As a result, CBP seized the meat and gave it to wildlife inspectors on Sept. 12.

“This seizure exemplifies the extraordinary competence of our Beagle Brigade in protecting our national vital agricultural resources by detecting prohibited plant and animal products packed in traveler baggage,” said Marc Calixte, CBP’s area port director for the Area Port of Washington, D.C. “Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists remain committed to working with our partners at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure that animal and plant products that travelers bring to the United States fully comply with our nation’s laws and relevant international conventions.”

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