Customs seize 77 seahorses, five snakes and snail cream from man at U.S. airport

25 August 2023 , 20:18

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Items included 77 dried seahorses, dead snakes and an ointment derived from snails - along with illegal pork products (Image: FDA)

Customs agents seized 77 seahorses, five snakes and snail ointment from man travelling through a U.S. airport.

The male passenger was passing through Washington Dulles International Airport from Vietnam when he was subjected to a secondary bag check when suspicions of its contents were raised by customs agents. The check, carried out on August 1, revealed the passenger was carrying a particularly bizarre contraband.

Items included 77 dried seahorses, dead snakes, and an ointment derived from snails - along with illegal pork products. The man was travelling to a final destination of Fairfax, Virginia. The import of all items discovered required necessary permits or documentation - of which the man did not have.

The bizarre contraband also included snail cream (FDA)

Additionally, uncertified pork products from Vietnam are prohibited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture due to the potential introduction of the dangerous African swine fever and swine vesicular disease. A second traveler from Vietnam, who arrived on August 4 and was destined to San Francisco and was found to be carrying four prohibited pork products and 50 small boxes of a commercial herbal liquid medicine that listed its ingredients as snake oil.

Customs Border Protection's agriculture specialists seized all prohibited products and turned them over to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service inspectors. The USFWS investigation continues. Christine Waugh, CBP’s Acting Area Port Director for the Area Port of Washington, D.C said: "Though we may consider some animal-based products to be unusual, people in other parts of the world may consider them to be normal. However, travellers visiting the United States should understand that Customs and Border Protection is committed to protecting our nation’s agricultural industries and enforcing our wildlife and import laws which may result in the seizure of their animal-based products.

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"CBP agriculture specialists continue to work side-by-side with our U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service partners to educate travellers by holding them accountable when they arrive with illegal or prohibited products." Ryan Noel, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement in the Northeast Region said: "Travellers can help protect wildlife and themselves by knowing what they are allowed to bring with them, whether traveling to or from the United States. All wildlife items that are imported to or exported from the U.S. — parts, products, or live animals — must be accompanied by proper documentation and declared."

According to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), illicit wildlife trade remains an international concern and is the leading cause pushing certain species to extinction.

The international trade in wildlife is estimated to be in the billions of dollars. Animals and plants are being exploited for a wide variety of consumer goods, including live and taxidermied specimens, food products, jewelry, clothing and accessories, musical instruments, tourist souvenirs, and many more products. CITES is one of the major international cooperation agreements that regulates lawful wildlife trade with the goal to safeguard wildlife from over-exploitation.

The mission of the USFWS Office of Law Enforcement is to protect wildlife and plant resources through the effective enforcement of U.S. federal laws, regulations, and treaties. The Office of Law Enforcement regulates all movement of wildlife in, out and through the U.S.to combat wildlife trafficking, prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species, and promote the conservation of species internationally.

Abigail O'Leary