Thread: CBP in Atlanta Intercepts Illegally Imported Crocodile

C.B.P. News Release

CBP in Atlanta Intercepts Illegally Imported Crocodile

(Monday, July 06, 2009)

Atlanta - United States Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport regularly discover unusual items while inspecting arriving international passengers’ luggage. A recent inspection revealed a passenger trying to import a stuffed crocodile in violation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, officials announced today.

The incident occurred on June 28, when a passenger arriving from Lagos, Nigeria, declared the stuffed crocodile to a CBP agriculture specialist. The stuffed crocodile was seized due to the passenger not having a CITES permit to allow importation of the item. Under CITES, both the exporter and importer need to comply with the Convention’s requirements and be certified in the trade of any part of an animal covered by the Convention.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the primary agency responsible for enforcing CITES in the United States. CBP, as the nation’s border agency, works closely with U.S. Fish and Wildlife to ensure CITES is enforced at every port of entry in the United States. The goal of CITES is to ensure that international trade in animals does not threaten their survival.

“This interception is significant, and is an excellent example of the CBP commitment at our ports of entry to partner with other federal agencies whose laws CBP helps to enforceâ€

The stories CBP must be able to tell! What in the world would you do with a stuffed crocodile? Smile.