Two people were stopped by airport officials after a disembowelled goat was found in their luggage.
Officials were stunned to find 15lbs of raw goat viscera including the trachea, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and entire digestive system.
The pair were arriving at Chicago O’Hare International Airport after a trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where they presumably purchased or found the eviscerated goat.
Along with the bizarre bounty of souvenirs was 1lb of unknown meat, and 2lbs of garden eggs.
Agriculture Specialists seized and destroyed the prohibited items to keep livestock diseases and plant pests out of the United States.
LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, CBP Director, Field Operations-Chicago Field Office, said: “There are real dangers these items can have if they are introduced in the U.S. economy.
“All passengers, whether entering or returning to the U.S., must be truthful and declare all items they are bringing. If one prohibited item enters the U.S. it could have dangerous ecological or economical results.”
Last month, US Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialists at Minneapolis – Saint Paul International Airport seized a box containing giraffe faeces.
The passenger said she had obtained the droppings in Kenya and planned to make a necklace out of them.
Michael Pfeiffer, Area Port Director, Chicago, said: “Items like these can harbor pests and diseases, if introduced into our agriculture systems or natural resources, could cause significant damage to our food supply or native species.
“Our agriculture specialists are dedicated to protecting these essential American resources from foreign pests and diseases.”
