Overview
- A Customs and Border Protection beagle named Maisy alerted officers to luggage from Thailand on Monday, and CBP agents seized 99 pounds of prohibited items from the bag.
- CBP said the haul included about 50 pounds of meat (including raw), 33 pounds of mangoes and other plants, and roughly 16 pounds of Bengal monitor lizard material.
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service took custody of the monitor lizard material for further handling and potential investigation, while CBP retained the agricultural items.
- Officials have not identified the traveler or announced whether charges will be filed in the LAX case, and a related early-July seizure of about 436 fish at the San Ysidro Port of Entry is being pursued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
- The seizures illustrate CBP’s routine use of trained detector dogs and agriculture specialists to stop items that can introduce pests, animal disease or invasive species, with penalties ranging from destruction and fines to possible criminal charges.