A woman travelling to the United States from Kenya was arrested with giraffe faecal matter on September 29, 2023.
In a statement released by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), they inspected a small box carried by the woman and found giraffe faecal material.
“A passenger returning from Kenya arrived at MSP and was selected for inspection by CBP agriculture specialists,” the statement read.
The passenger declared the giraffe faeces and stated that she had obtained the droppings in Kenya and planned to make a necklace.
She also said that in the past, she had used moose faeces at her home in Iowa.
The box was seized by an agriculture specialist and the excrement was destroyed via steam sterilization per United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) destruction protocol.
“There is a real danger with bringing faecal matter into the US. If this person had entered the US and had not declared these items, there is a high possibility a person could have contracted a disease from this jewellery and developed serious health issues, “Field Operations-Chicago Field Office CBP Director LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke said.
According to the statement, all ruminant animal faeces require a Veterinary Services Permit for entry into the United States.
