Full Breakdown
Unusual Items Seized at Chicago O’Hare Highlight CBP Agriculture’s Role in Protecting U.S. Agriculture
5/2/2026, 5:09:59 AM
Unusual Seizures and Agency Collaboration
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture officers at Chicago O’Hare International Airport have recently removed a variety of prohibited items from travelers’ baggage. Confiscated objects include two monkey carcasses from Africa, live giant African snails, a bird’s nest covered in feces, and beehives with live bees. CBP works with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to enforce import restrictions. Chief Agriculture Specialist Cory Everton oversees the operation, while officer Roxanne Ramirez assists with enforcement and public education. Trained beagles are deployed at baggage claim to sniff out undeclared fruits, vegetables, meats, and other animal products.
Scale of Confiscations
CBP reports an average of roughly 5,000 pounds of meat seized each month at O’Hare. Monthly totals recorded were 4,850 pounds in December, 6,600 pounds in January, 4,850 pounds in February, and 3,525 pounds in March, amounting to about 2.5 tons of meat per month.
Potential Agricultural Risks
CBP officials warn that undeclared animal products and live organisms can be catastrophic for U.S. crops and livestock. A loose giant African snail could devastate a backyard garden, while a monkey carcass from Africa could be catastrophic to crops and livestock. Bird nests covered in feces and beehives with live bees also raise sanitation and ecological concerns.
Official Statements & Responses
CBP officials note that many travelers are unaware of import prohibitions, prompting a dual strategy of education and enforcement. Everton emphasizes the variety of prohibited items encountered and the necessity of strict controls.
Criticism & Opposition
Ramirez acknowledges that penalties can appear punitive, emphasizing the agency’s duty to balance education with enforcement when regulations are violated.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We get a lot of folks bringing giant African snails, live. If these get loose in your backyard, you don’t have a backyard anymore. [Thursday] we had someone bring in a bird’s nest covered in bird feces,” — Cory Everton, Chief Agriculture Specialist, CBP
- “We get a lot of monkeys. In fact we got one yesterday…I put it in the vent here for safety purposes,” — Cory Everton, Chief Agriculture Specialist, CBP
- “Some people are not aware that things are prohibited; that’s why we are here to educate people, but we are also here to penalize people,” — Roxanne Ramirez, Customs and Border officer
- “In the passenger environment, we use beagles because they are small, they’re pretty cute and not very threatening, and they have a very high food drive. They will work very hard for a cookie,” — Cory Everton, Chief Agriculture Specialist, CBP
Future Enforcement Plans
CBP intends to keep deploying beagles and expanding traveler outreach at O’Hare. Officers expect to encounter additional prohibited items and will continue monthly reporting of confiscated goods to monitor trends and adjust enforcement strategies.
