U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists at Washington Dulles International Airport intercepted over two pounds of snake meat in a traveler's baggage on September 11. The discovery was made after CBP's agriculture detector dog, Freddie, alerted officials to the luggage of a passenger arriving from Equatorial Guinea.
The importation of snake meat into the United States is prohibited under U.S. agriculture laws. Following the detection, CBP consulted with wildlife inspectors from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to assess the admissibility of the snake meat. USFWS regulates wildlife imports and advised that bringing in snake meat without proper permits violated several laws, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Lacey Act.
On September 12, CBP seized the snake meat based on USFWS's request and transferred it to their wildlife inspectors. Marc Calixte, CBP’s Area Port Director for Washington, D.C., commented on the incident: “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.”
CITES is an international treaty aimed at regulating wildlife trade to prevent over-exploitation. It covers a wide range of goods derived from animals and plants, including food products, jewelry, clothing, musical instruments, and tourist souvenirs.
The mission of USFWS's Office of Law Enforcement includes enforcing federal laws to protect wildlife and plant resources while combating trafficking and promoting conservation efforts globally.
CBP officers and agriculture specialists are responsible for border security at Ports of Entry across the nation. They screen travelers and cargo for illicit substances, counterfeit goods, invasive species, and other threats to public safety and economic stability.
For more information about CBP activities or updates from their Baltimore Field Office Director on social media platforms X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram can be accessed through respective handles @DFOBaltimore and @cbpfieldops.