Giraffe and zebra bones from Africa seized at U.S. airport

Authorities seized an uncommon memento at a Virginia airport: giraffe and zebra bones, which a Virginia lady was bringing house from a visit to Africa, officers mentioned.

The lady informed Customs and Border Protection brokers at Washington Dulles International Airport final month she had a twig from an acacia tree — a extremely recognizable thorny tree widespread on the African savannah. When officers despatched her for extra screening, nevertheless, an X-ray of her luggage turned up what CBP known as “an anomaly,” and she or he up to date her customs declaration to incorporate zebra and giraffe bones, based on a news launch from the company.

While authorities in the end determined the twig was OK to carry into the nation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service informed CBP to grab the bones, which the girl mentioned she present in Kenya, saying bringing them in might violate guidelines aimed toward defending the nation’s agricultural trade, pets and folks.

The lady was not charged with a criminal offense and was launched, the CBP mentioned.

“I can appreciate travelers wanting to keep souvenirs of their vacations,” mentioned Kim Der-Yeghiayan, CBP’s appearing space port director for Washington, D.C. “But those souvenirs could violate United States or international law, or potentially expose our families, pets or our nation’s agriculture industries to serious animal or plant diseases.”

Der-Yeghiayan mentioned vacationers must declare every part they’re bringing into the States.

“Customs and Border Protection strongly encourages all travelers to know what they can and cannot pack in their baggage before returning to or visiting the United States and to declare all items upon arrival,” Der-Yeghiayan mentioned within the assertion.

In a typical day, CBP agriculture specialists throughout the nation over 4,500 prohibited plant, meat, animal byproducts and soils in addition to a whole bunch of insect pests, the company reported.