Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials discovered nearly 100 pounds of prohibited meat, plants, and wildlife products in luggage arriving from Thailand. The agriculture detector dog, K9 Maisy, alerted officers to the suitcase, which contained 50 pounds of raw meat, 33 pounds of mangoes, garlic, bamboo, banana plants, and approximately 16 pounds of Bengal monitor lizard. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service took custody of the monitor lizard. CBP agriculture specialists routinely inspect international luggage for items that could introduce pests or diseases into the United States.
In a separate incident, officers from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, inspected a vehicle at the San Ysidro Port of Entry and found approximately 436 fish, including rockfish, lingcod, sheephead, and yellowtail. The three individuals in the vehicle did not possess valid Mexican fishing licenses and were reportedly bringing the fish into the United States for sale. The catch was seized as evidence, and charges are being pursued for the unlawful take of fish in Mexico, fishing without valid licenses, and illegally importing the fish into the United States.