In an unusual find, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection dog detected mummified monkeys in the luggage of a traveler from Africa at Boston Logan Airport.
The traveler, returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo, initially claimed the luggage contained dried fish.
However, a thorough inspection unveiled the dead and dehydrated bodies of four monkeys. The traveler explained he brought the monkeys to the U.S. for personal consumption.
"Raw or minimally processed meat from wild animals, often called 'bushmeat,' is prohibited in the U.S. due to disease risks," Ryan Bissette, a CPB spokesperson, stated.
"Bushmeat can carry germs that cause illnesses, including the Ebola virus," Julio Caravia, local port director for Customs and Border Protection, informed.
Bissette reported that while the traveler faced no charges, authorities confiscated all of his luggage, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designated the nearly 9 pounds of bushmeat for destruction.
