U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents say their Beagle Brigade helped confiscate several illegal items -- including an entire roasted pig -- from travelers flying out of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Joey, a beagle pup, alerted agents Wednesday to the bag of a traveler from Peru to find the pig. Agents said it was seized and destroyed.
On the same day, agents said a traveler arriving from Uzbekistan was found to have fruit trees, carrots and cured sausages consisting of horse meat.
Investigators said the fruit trees lacked a United States Department of Agriculture import permit and phytosanitary certificates, while the meat and fresh carrots were seized to prevent the potential introduction of pests or animal diseases.
"Our best defense against destructive pests and animal diseases is to prevent the entry of prohibited agriculture products they use as vectors from entering the United States," said Carey Davis, CBP Area Port director for the Port of Atlanta.
"One measure Customs and Border Protection employs to intercept prohibited agriculture products is the effective deployment of highly-trained K-9 units. These seizures at ATL illustrate the tremendous expertise of our four-legged K-9 partners in protecting the United States' many agriculture industries."
On Friday, Candie, also a Beagle, alerted agents to a bag that belonged a traveler from Bulgaria containing fig trees, tulip bulbs and almond seeds, and seized it for destruction.
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