US Customs caught a traveller from Central Africa carrying carcasses of three spider monkeys in his bag. It is not known whether he brought them as food or as pet. But once the confiscated carcasses were removed and tested for any disease, he was let to go.
Customs spokesman Steve Sapp said a trained dog alerted authorities to the man’s bag on Friday. The luggage also contained deer meat and dried beef, which has been destroyed.
Sapp said it’s not unusual for foreign visitors to bring exotic foods to the U.S., but he says the discoveries were “a first.” After the confiscations, the man was allowed to enter the U.S.
The monkey carcasses were inadmissible under U.S. law. Monkeys can transfer infectious diseases to people.
