A U.S. Customs and Border Protection K9 named Murray detected prohibited holly leaves, nuts and 11 pounds of raw chicken in a traveler's baggage at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Murray made the big find Feb. 12, when he alerted to the suitcases of a traveler flying into Atlanta from Ecuador.
One of Murray’s colleagues, a K9 named Chevee, got suspicious about a passenger’s checked bags on a Feb. 5 flight from Ecuador. An inspection revealed fruit, tomatoes and 22 pounds of pork sausage. And in late January, a Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialist found lemons, seeds and the destructive Khapra beetle in wheat in the luggage of a family flying from Saudi Arabia.
The seized food was destroyed and the travelers given a warning for not declaring agriculture products.
Murray has a special history chronicled by the AJC: He was three years old when he joined the Beagle Brigade at Hartsfield-Jackson, after being rescued from abuse.
He had an injured tail, half an ear missing and was timid and scared.
But he went through training, made the cut and joined U.S. Customs and Border Protection about a year ago.
Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC
Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC
Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC
Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC
Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC
Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC
Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC
Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC
Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC
Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC
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