Agents Seize Snake Oil and Prohibited Pork at Dulles Airport

There’s never a dull moment for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists at Washington Dulles International Airport. Here's a look at two recent seizures from travelers arriving from Vietnam that illustrate this point.

"CBP agriculture specialists and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wildlife inspectors encountered some unusual and prohibited products recently from travelers who arrived from Vietnam to Washington Dulles International Airport," CBP said in a release. "The products included snakes and snake oil, sea horses, and snail ointment, and the potential introduction of the dangerous African swine fever."

The first traveler arrived on Aug. 1, destined to Fairfax, Va. After being referred to a secondary baggage examination, agents discovered prohibited pork, in addition to 77 dry seahorses, five jars of snail ointment, and five dead snakes.

The import of the seahorses, snakes and snail ointment without the necessary permits or documentation violated several laws and regulations, including provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and the Lacey Act, the release said.

Additionally, uncertified pork products from Vietnam are prohibited by USDA due to the potential introduction of the African swine fever (ASF) and swine vesicular disease.

The second traveler entered the U.S. on Aug. 4 en route to San Francisco. After a secondary baggage examination, CBP agriculture specialists and USFWS wildlife inspectors discovered four prohibited pork products and 50 small boxes of a commercial herbal liquid medicine that listed its ingredients as snake oil.

CBP agriculture specialists seized all prohibited products and turned them over to USFWS inspectors. The USFWS investigation continues.

“Though we may consider some animal-based products to be unusual, people in other parts of the world may consider them to be normal. However, travelers visiting the United States should understand that Customs and Border Protection is committed to protecting our nation’s agricultural industries and enforcing our wildlife and import laws which may result in the seizure of their animal-based products,” Christine Waugh, CBP’s Acting Area Port Director for the Area Port of Washington, D.C., said in a release. “CBP agriculture specialists continue to work side-by-side with our U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service partners to educate travelers by holding them accountable when they arrive with illegal or prohibited products.”

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