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Roasted Pig Stopped by Atlanta CBP

Release Date
Mon, 10/15/2018
ATL K9 with Roasted Pig
CBP K9 "Hardy" right, admires the
cooked pig he intercepted at ATL airport

ATLANTA — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists and a Beagle K-9 working at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) intercepted a cooked pig found in checked luggage at the busiest airport in the world.

On Thursday, CBP Agriculture Detector K-9 “Hardy” a member of the “Beagle Brigade”, alerted to the baggage of a traveler from Ecuador. During a further examination, CBP agriculture specialists discovered a roasted pig head in the traveler’s baggage. The pig weighing nearly two-pounds was seized and destroyed. 

“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." 

Pork and pork products from other continents are prohibited from entry into the U.S. to prevent the potential introduction of foreign animal diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease, Classical Swine Fever, and Swine Vesicular Disease. When entering into the U.S. every fruit, vegetable or food products must be declared to a CBP agriculture specialist or CBP officer and must be presented for inspection – regardless of origin.

CBP K( Hardy at POE ATL
 K9 "Hardy" a Beagle, joined CBP at
Atlanta Airport in 2015

 “Hardy”, a six-year old rescued Beagle joined CBP here at ATL in 2015 after completing training with U.S. Department of Agriculture at their National Detectors Dog Training Center in Newnan, GA.

 CBP Agriculture Specialists have extensive training and experience in the biological sciences and agricultural inspection. On a typical day nationally, they inspect over 1 million people as well as air and sea cargo imported to the United States and intercept 352 pests at U.S. ports of entry and 4,638 materials for quarantine: plant, meat, animal byproduct, and soil. 

Learn more about CBP’s agriculture protection mission. and to find out more about CBP operations in the Southeast, visit @CBPSouthEast on Twitter.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 15, 2024