During routine checks at Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, customs officials found the remains of monkeys in the suitcase of a passenger traveling from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the United States.
In a statement released yesterday by US Customs and Border Protection, it was reported that the remains of 4 monkeys were found thanks to the specially trained K9 dog Buddey in the incident that took place on January 8.
Authorities said the passenger, whose identity they did not share, returned to the US on a connecting flight to Paris after traveling to the DRC.
The passenger reportedly said he had dried fish in his suitcase, but upon further inspection, a monkey corpse weighing a total of 4 kilograms was found in the bag.
US Customs and Border Protection spokesman Ryan Bissette said the passenger later said he had taken the monkeys with him to eat.
Bissette reminded that wild animal meat is banned from entering the country because it can cause epidemics such as Ebola, and said the monkey corpses will be destroyed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
No legal action has been taken against the passenger, the official said.
AP, TheGuardian
