What prohibited items were seized at Chicago O'Hare?

A monkey carcass and 125 pounds of prohibited beef hidden in dried seafood were seized by CBP agents.

What happens if you don't declare agricultural items at the border?

Undeclared prohibited agricultural items can be seized, and passengers may face penalties of up to $1,000.

Why are certain agricultural items prohibited for import into the U.S.?

Prohibited agricultural items can harbor pests and foreign animal diseases that could harm America's crops, livestock, environment, and economy.

Home / Crime and Justice / CBP Seizes 125 lbs of Meat and Monkey Carcass

CBP Seizes 125 lbs of Meat and Monkey Carcass

28 Apr

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Summary

A monkey carcass was found in luggage arriving from Cameroon.
125 pounds of prohibited beef was seized from another traveler.
Undeclared agricultural items can lead to $1,000 penalties.

CBP Seizes 125 lbs of Meat and Monkey Carcass

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents at Chicago O'Hare International Airport recently intercepted two significant shipments of prohibited agricultural items. On April 11, 2026, a traveler arriving from Cameroon had a monkey carcass discovered in their luggage during a secondary agriculture inspection prompted by an X-ray anomaly. The remains were seized and destroyed due to human health concerns.

In a separate incident the same day, another passenger arriving from Liberia attempted to conceal 125 pounds of beef. The meat, along with bones, hair, prohibited fresh leaves, and seeds, was found hidden within dried seafood. Undeclared prohibited agricultural items pose risks to American crops, livestock, and the environment.

Travelers are required to declare all meats, plants, seeds, animals, and related products. Failure to declare such items can lead to their seizure and potential penalties of up to $1,000.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.