A visitor from Egypt has admitted guilt to federal charges after kicking and injuring a dog at a U.S. customs and border facility.
The incident took place on Tuesday at Washington Dulles International Airport when a beagle, working for Customs and Border Protection (CBP), alerted an agent named Freddy about possible contraband in the luggage of 70-year-old Danbayoumea Ally Marie.
According to a press release from CBP:
Freddie, a five-year-old beagle, was inspecting luggage from travelers arriving from Cairo when he detected something in Marie’s suitcase. When a CBP dog handler began to question Marie, she kicked Freddie with enough force to lift the 25-pound beagle off the ground.
CBP officials quickly moved in, handcuffed Marie, and turned her over to Homeland Security Investigations for prosecution. A veterinarian later determined that Freddie sustained a contusion on his right rib area.
CBP agents inspected Marie’s luggage and found multiple prohibited items, including 55 pounds of beef, 44 pounds of rice, 15 pounds of eggplant, and various seeds and herbs.
After her guilty plea, Marie was sentenced to time served and required to pay for Freddie’s veterinary care before being deported back to Egypt.
“Even though she was caught smuggling over £100 worth of undeclared, prohibited agricultural products, Christine Waugh, the local CBP port chief in Washington, DC, remarked:
“Our K9 partners are essential to our operations, and any attack on one of us is an attack on the entire team. CBP will work with our investigative and prosecuting partners to ensure that justice is served swiftly and decisively against those responsible,” added Waugh.
