Border K9 Finds 99 Pounds of Meat, Plants and Monitor Lizard

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture detector dog helped officers uncover nearly 100 pounds of banned meat, produce and wildlife products in luggage that had arrived from Thailand, authorities said.

According to CBP, K9 Maisy alerted officers to a suitcase packed with 50 pounds of meat, including raw meat, along with 33 pounds of mangoes, garlic, bamboo, banana plants and about 16 pounds of Bengal monitor lizard. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service later took possession of the monitor lizard.

“If you discovered all this in a suitcase, wouldn’t you be this happy?” CBP wrote in a social media post featuring a photo of Maisy sitting proudly behind the unusual seizure.

ONE CANNABIS MISTAKE AT AIRPORT COULD BRING 10 YEARS IN PRISON AND $15,000 FINE

CBP agriculture specialists regularly screen international baggage for prohibited meat, plants, fruits and wildlife products that could carry pests, spread animal diseases or introduce invasive species into the United States.

In a separate incident, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said its officers, working alongside the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, inspected a vehicle at the San Ysidro Port of Entry and discovered roughly 436 fish, including rockfish, lingcod, sheephead and yellowtail.

CDFW said the three people in the vehicle did not have valid Mexican fishing licenses and that officers determined they were bringing the fish into the United States to sell.

The agency said the catch was seized as evidence and charges are being pursued in connection with the alleged unlawful take of fish in Mexico, fishing without valid licenses and illegally importing the fish into the United States