A TOURIST who kicked a sniffer dog “so hard it flew into the air” at a US airport has been deported after being charged a hefty fine.
Freddie, a five-year-old beagle, was booted at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia after he detected a suspicious suitcase.
Hamed Ramadan Bayoumy Aly Marie arrived in the United States from Cairo, Egypt, and was at the baggage claim on a Tuesday when a dog signaled his suitcase.
After talking to a US customs officer, he kicked the helpless dog “so hard that he was lifted off of the ground,” a federal complaint said.
Freddie, who works with US customs officials to sniff out smuggled goods, was rushed to the vet where he was treated for bruises to his right rib.
Hamed pleaded guilty to the assault on Wednesday and was made to pay $840 (£611) for the bill before being sent back to Egypt the following day.
A raid on the man’s bag uncovered a slew of banned agricultural products including 25kg of beef meat and 20kg of rice.
Some 7kg of auberine, cucumbers, and bell peppers, 1kg of corn seeds, and some herbs were also found.
Many agricultural products are banned or restricted from entering the US due to concern about pests and diseases.
While these restrictions differ from one nation to another, items frequently banned include meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, along with other products derived from animals or plants.
Christine Waugh, a senior customs and border protection officer, condemned the man’s actions, calling his violent outburst unjustified.
She told The Telegraph that being caught with the food did not mean he could “violently assault a defenceless beagle”.
Customs official “rely heavily” on their canine partners and Freddie “was just doing his job”, she said.
“Any harmful action against one of us is an attack against all of us. CBP will carry on collaborating with our investigative and prosecuting associates to deliver quick and severe justice to attackers,” she stated.
Customs and Border Patrol said: “CBP’s Beagles Brigade plays a vital role in screening passengers and cargo to prevent the introduction of harmful plant pests and foreign animal disease from entering the U.S.
“Animal and plant diseases and invasive pests and weeds have cost nations millions to billions of dollars in eradication measures and lost revenues.”
This comes just days after a dutiful pup was caught squaring up to a bear after it broke into a Californian home.
Footage shows the 17-year-old dog named Doodle watch the beast smash through the door before trying to fend it off with his barks.
All this while the dog’s owner, Zoe Cadman, lay fast asleep.
The nail-biting moment, which saw the hairy intruder roam around the house for almost half an hour, was caught on Zoe’s home security cam.
Unprovoked, the bear is then seen wandering over to the fridge and raid its contents before making its way out – leaving both Zoe and Doodle unscathed.
Fit with a massive collar, it’s not clear whether the bear was being monitored or if it belonged to anyone.
But neighbors suggest the enormous creature is a frequent visitor.
One local told NBC Los Angeles: “It’s part of living up here. We’re really close to the mountains and they were here first.
“But luckily, knock on wood, they’ve all been really friendly coming through here.”
