Primate, Rodent Meat Seized Twice In One Month At Detroit Airport

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Authorities at Detroit Metropolitan Airport confiscated bushmeat twice within one week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in an Aug. 20 news release.

The bushmeat seized by CBP agents last month included 11 pounds of rodent meat from Togo, in West Africa, and 52 pounds of primate meat, declared as antelope, from Gabon, in Central Africa. The travelers also had additional, undeclared agricultural items in their possession.

The first seizure occurred on July 15 and the second on July 20, the agency said. In a typical year, airport authorities encounter two dozen interceptions involving bushmeat.

The meat was confiscated and handed over to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Each passenger was fined $300 for the undeclared agricultural items. 

Rodent-type bushmeat interceptions are sporadic at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, the agency noted, adding primate interceptions are rarer.

Bushmeat is meat from wild animals, including monkeys, bats, cane rats, giraffes, antelopes and porcupines and elephants. 

The meat poses a significant risk of communicable diseases. It is illegal to import into the U.S. It’s primarily consumed in Africa, Latin America, and Asian countries, according to the International Fund for Wildlife Welfare. 

It’s estimated to make up between 80-90% of animal protein intake in rural regions of West and Central Africa, where it can be difficult to raise livestock. It's considered an available or affordable source of protein. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bushmeat has the potential to spread diseases like Ebola due to hunting, butchering, and processing meat from infected animals.

“We routinely find various agriculture items and oddities—live giant snails, animal skulls, and exotic food items—but most times it’s not a malicious act,” CBP Director of Field Operations Marty C Raybon said in a written statement.

“Despite this, it’s our duty to protect the homeland and preventing certain food and animal products from entering the U.S. is essential to public health.” 

Detroit officials previously seized bushmeat in March, according to an agency Facebook post. In that instance, agents discovered partially dried goat meat with intact jawbones and tongues. 

In June, CBP officials at Washington Dulles Airport said they’d recently seized a package of bushmeat but didn’t specify what kind it was or when the seizure took place. 

CBP requires travelers to declare all food and plant items upon arrival to the U.S.

Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com