Monkey Carcass, 125 Pounds Of Illegal Meat Seized At Chicago O'Hare Airport

CHICAGO, IL — U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists seized a monkey carcass and 125 lbs of beef this month at O'Hare International Airport.

On April 11, CBP officers referred a traveler from Cameroon to a secondary agriculture inspection because an X-ray examination of his luggage discovered an anomaly. Upon further examination of the suitcase, an agriculture specialist discovered a monkey carcass.

Officials seized the monkey due to significant human health concerns and it was destroyed.

A subsequent traveler from Liberia attempted to enter the country with prohibited ruminant meat, according to CBP. Agriculture specialists inspected eight boxes within the traveler's baggage and discovered meat, bones and hair concealed in dried seafood.

The traveler admitted that the concealed meat was beef.

"Seafood is generally admissible, but ruminant meat from certain parts of the world is prohibited due to the presence of disease, such as Bovine spongiform Encephalopathy and Foot and Mouth Disease," CBP said in a statement.

Authorities seized a total of 125 pounds of prohibited ruminant meat, one pound of prohibited fresh leaves and four types of prohibited seed for planting from the traveler's luggage.

“CBP’s agriculture specialists mitigate the threat of non-native plants and pests, plant and animal diseases, and other potentially contaminants entering the United States,” said Chicago Field Office’s Acting Director of Field Operations Michael Pfeiffer. “The sheer volume of prohibited items our specialists intercept daily demonstrates how they play an essential and critical role in preventing plant and animal diseases from entering the United States.”