Monkey Meat Is Confiscated at Dulles
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Originally published at 5:00 p.m., December 8, 2008
Updated at 9:35 p.m., December 8, 2008
Customs officials searching the bags of an African man who flew into Dulles International Airport on Friday discovered three charred monkeys in his luggage, as well as deer meat and dried beef, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said yesterday.
The man was traveling from Bangui in Central African Republic, a small country north of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He admitted he was carrying the meat, a common food in parts of Africa, after a trained dog alerted authorities to the man's bag, customs spokesman Steve Sapp said.
The monkey carcasses, inadmissible under U.S. law, were confiscated and are being inspected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; monkeys can easily introduce infectious diseases to humans, Sapp said. The other meat was destroyed, and the man was allowed to enter the country without penalty, Sapp said.
Foreigners visiting the United States sometimes try to bring with them exotic foods that are part of their native cuisines, especially around the holidays. But this was "a first for many of us," Sapp said.
Primates are a common food source in the Central African region, said Heather E. Eves, director of the Bushmeat Crisis Task Force, a nonprofit that researches the trade in African "bushmeat," the flesh of wild animals. Eves said that the monkeys' charred appearance comes from the animals' being smoked and that the meat is typically used to make stew.
Primates are also known to carry diseases such as monkeypox, HIV/AIDS and Ebola, she said.
The traveler was not identified because he was not arrested, Sapp said. Foreigners who attempt to conceal agricultural products from customs officials can face fines, usually about $300, Sapp said.
"If they're not trying to hide anything from us, they're not being combative . . . we let them go on their way," Sapp said.
Staff researcher Meg Smith contributed to this report.
Tagged: Dulles, Dulles Airport
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funny
Posted by elena.wolman (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 7:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Funny. Just the other day I thought that a great name for a restaurant would be THE TOASTED MONKEY.
Posted by edeckel (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 7:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Obviously the passenger violated the no carrion luggage rule.
Posted by edbyronadams (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 7:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Primates are also known to carry diseases such as monkeypox, HIV/AIDS and Ebola, she said."
Yeah, but the guy normally eats monkeys. So the HIV/AIDS, ebola, and monkeypox viruses are already in the ticketed passenger.
Posted by blasmaic (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 9:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
monkeyburger restaurant usa
Posted by benmathenymouth (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I remember once flying in to the country and not far from me was a customs inspector holding a object about the size of a football wrapped in brown paper and tied with string. The inspector was holding it up and quizzing the traveler asking: "Is this elephant meat?" For some reason I've never been able to forget that brief scene.
Posted by DavidFlores (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by Robbnitafl (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 9:53 a.m.
"violated the no carrion luggage rule"
That is very funny.
United probably would have allowed it, as long as he'd bought seats for the charred monkeys.
Posted by chunche (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by rusty3 (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 10:04 a.m.
You people commenting today are so FUNNY!! Thanks for the laughs! I would add that if he'd bought seats for his little crispy critters, he probably would have been required to put them in child safety seats.
Posted by whitetrash4u (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Note to self. Maybe not such a good idea to try the dish ("with a great meat from my homeland") that my African friend from near the Congo offers next time I'm visiting her.
Posted by SickofMikeBaisden (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is not a funny situation (though I'll admit the "carrion" thing is a cute pun). The practice of eating bushmeat further decimates many already endangered species, and the ecology of losing or diminishing even one threatened species affects us all. Not to mention the hazards of eating a close evolutionary relative (example: mad cow disease was first caused by cows being fed beef). Furthermore it is obviously dangerous (and disgusting!) to eat infected and diseased meat. Ew.
Posted by tdesantis (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Personally I prefer my Monkey to be medium-rare, as opposed to well-done as this monkey was obviously prepared.
Posted by Cobain (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am sure the passanger knew that he was not allowed to bring the monkey meat into USA. There are warnings posted at the embarkation point to the US about bringing in exotic foods. He chose to smuggle it in anyway. This passanger just got a slap on the wrist and was allowed to enter our country. At least authorities should have tested him for dieses before before admitting him into the United States.
Posted by Ksheikh (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I like monkeys.I bought 200.I like monkeys.
http://people.redhat.com/blizzard/monkey...
Posted by rtg11 (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think monkey meat, when properly stored and prepared is a very nutrious. lowfat and healthy food
I have enjoyed it for many years.
Eat it often while serving in Vietnam
Posted by wjack10345 (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The racist TSA should not be discriminating against diverse meal choices. Clearly they are just trying to make people buy airline food.
Posted by georgejones5 (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No mention of the great green gobs of greasy, grimy gopher guts. Nor of the itty, bitty birdy feet.
Posted by balzerdk (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is to tdesantis:
So what would you suggest they eat? Africa is one of the poorest continents on earth. If it came between saving an endangered speices or feeding your kids, what would YOU choose?
It is admirable to save endangered speicies, but human life is more valuable than animal life. Unless you can come up with an altnernative way to feed these people, I suggest you shut the hell up and leave the man alone.
Posted by ezekielthawngcung (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The man should have undergone a quarantine, pay a penalty and/or sent back to his country. Imagine such "ignorance" and uncivilized behavior coming into this country. We are not talking about a box of "monkey cookies" but 3 dead monkeys, deer meat and else. How about the custom check point in his country that allowed him to travel with a suitcase filled with meat? It reminds me of the movie Mortadella with Sofia Loren. At least she was cute.
Posted by giadrc (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Now that they confiscated the monkey meat, what will we have for our Christmas luncheon?
Posted by MajorConfusion (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 1:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What else is considered "exotic food"?
Any valid official list exist?
Posted by loudouner (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is just disgusting. Who just gets on a plane with raw meat?
Posted by wonkguy (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They didn't take the meat because it's disgusting or because it's exotic. They took it because it could contain diseases that could harm us or other animals. The guy can bring in any type of exotic food he wants as long as it doesn't have any harmful diseases. I've brought meats from other countries into the US ranging from moose to wild fish and customs just checks to make sure they have no diseases and let me go. They do a good job.
Posted by erix_00 (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 3:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sarah Palin is probably polishing up her shotgun and salivating... thinking, "Mmmmm... baked Alaska monkey!" [I'm sorry: I just couldn't resist.]
Posted by DarylAtamanyk (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I MUST SAY I HAVE BEEN LOL READING THIS ENTIRE PAGE THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR THE LAUGHS...I NEEDED EFVERY BITE OF IT!
Posted by lisa2_20782 (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 3:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The carrion comment is GOOD.
Yes, Sarah Palin is jealous.
Posted by barbarcc (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i like eating monkeys. They are very good if prepared properly. You should try it sometime.
Posted by jujujones (anonymous) on December 11, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Obama loves charred monkey.
Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on December 11, 2008 at 1:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is to: ezekielthawngcung.
First of all I don't think your harsh words are necessary, I was not picking on him, and I never said one thing about him personally. Secondly, um, did you read the article--he obviously could afford a plane ticket and he was coming into the States where there's plenty of safer food options-- he's not in the bush now; no need to bring diseased monkey carcass into this country, where it endangers not only himself but others. Lastly, if the only option these people have is to eat diseased or endangered bushmeat, please use your anger which was misdirected at me (who spent this winter in Africa trying my best in a situation that seems hopeless) to do something about it. Best! TD
Posted by tdesantis (anonymous) on December 11, 2008 at 3:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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