Authorities at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, seized a man‘s luggage filled with 6.8 kilograms of raw goat viscera, including the trachea, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and the entire digestive system.
The incident at O’Hare International Airport occurred on October 10 when two passengers arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo were referred for inspection.
Customs officials discovered about 400 grams of unknown meat, a kilogram of garden eggs, and the rather bizarre raw goat viscera.
“There are real dangers these items can have if they are introduced in the U.S. economy,” said LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, director of field operations at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Chicago field office.
She added: “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 economic results.”
U.S. laws strictly prohibit travelers from introducing plant materials, animal materials, and other agricultural items like fruits, vegetables, and plants into the country to prevent the spread of livestock diseases and plant pests.
Travelers wishing to import such items are required to declare everything acquired abroad to customs officers; failing to do so can result in civil or criminal penalties.
