CBP Beagle Recovering After Being Kicked During Baggage Inspection
The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is reporting that Freddie, a beagle working at Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C., is on the mend after suffering an injury during a baggage inspection. The incident occurred when he was kicked during an inspection, but fortunately, he only sustained a bruise and is expected to make a full recovery.
“We appreciate everyone’s concern for Freddie,” the CBP said in a statement on Friday. “He is currently receiving treatment from a veterinarian and is enjoying his favorite treat: a puppy cup!”
A 70-year-old man, Hamed Ramadan Baiyy Ali Marie, pleaded guilty in federal court this week to the charge of injuring a law enforcement animal. Marie was subsequently removed from the US and returned to Egypt on Thursday afternoon.
Freddie, who is assigned to the CBP agricultural detection team, alerted officers to one of Marie’s suitcases upon his arrival from Cairo. During questioning, Marie kicked Freddie hard enough that the 25-pound beagle was lifted off the ground, prompting CBP officers to detain him immediately and hand him over to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents. After veterinary evaluation, it was determined that Freddie suffered minor injuries.
Marie entered a guilty plea in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. He was ordered to pay for Freddie’s veterinary bills and must report to CBP regarding his removal from the US.
According to a CBP official, the working dogs like Freddie play crucial roles in maintaining US agriculture security. They intercept a significant amount of illegal agricultural imports. In Marie’s case, a search of his baggage revealed a substantial haul—55 pounds of beef, 44 pounds of rice, and various vegetables, all of which were seized as prohibited imports.
The importance of CBP’s agricultural detection dogs cannot be overstated; they help shield US agriculture from pests and diseases. Just last year, the CBP reported intercepting over 3,500 prohibited plant and animal products at US ports.
The US Attorneys’ Office for the Eastern District of Virginia is overseeing the case. CBP has not yet provided further comments concerning the incident.
