Traveler brought swine, avian, ruminant meat
pounds of raw, cured, dried meat in
travelers bags.
DALLAS – U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists working at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport seized various animal parts, organs, and glands from a traveler arriving from Vietnam February 4.
CBP seized 22 pounds of raw pig, chicken, and cow meat, brains, hearts, tongues, heads, and other body parts.
The prohibited meat was discovered when the traveler, a permanent resident of the U.S., arrived at DFW and was referred for a baggage exam. She provided a negative customs declaration and during an inspection of her luggage, CBP agriculture specialists discovered the meat inside one of her bags.
“Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists work diligently to prevent the introduction of diseases into the U.S.” said Dallas CBP Port Director Cleatus Hunt Jr. “These kinds of meat products are potential carriers for harmful diseases that could result in devastating effects on our agriculture industry.”
On a typical day, CBP seizes approximately 4,638 prohibited plant materials and/or animal products on a typical day. There are restrictions on meat and meat products that travelers may bring to the U.S. as they could carry diseases.
The seized items were destroyed by steam sterilization.