Custom agents found 15 pounds of raw goat viscera inside luggage at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The contraband was discovered in the belongings of a couple entering the United States from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, along with one pound of unknown meat and two pounds of garden eggs.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialists made the discovery in Chicago earlier this month after the couple was referred to this specialty division for additional screening, according to an agency release. The raw goat viscera included the trachea, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and entire digestive system. The division aims to prevent pests and diseases from entering the country via meats and produce, potentially causing harm. The New York Daily News reported:
Officials said it’s not atypical for agents to confiscate produce or plants being illegally brought into the country, “however, their latest seizure, an eviscerated goat, is certainly outside of the normal items they stop.”
The agency warned that sneaking such material into the U.S. could have dangerous ecological or economical ramifications.
“Items like these can harbor pests and diseases, if introduced into our agriculture systems or natural resources, could cause significant damage to our food supply or native species,” according to Chicago Area Port Director Michael Pfeiffer.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection also noted that it seized a box of giraffe poop at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport last week. The woman traveling with the box claimed that she was going to use it to make traditional jewelry. The agricultural specialists have an important role in protecting American wildlife and the public, but you can’t really predict what situation they’ll end up in.