Disturbing Discovery at Chicago O’Hare as Customs Officers Seize Primate Meat from Passenger’s Luggage

One of the busiest airports in the United States has added another shocking incident to an already eventful year, after customs officers at Chicago O’Hare International Airport uncovered prohibited animal products hidden inside a passenger’s suitcase.

Chicago O’Hare, which handles more than 100 million passengers annually and operates the highest number of runways in the world, is no stranger to unusual discoveries. However, even seasoned officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) were reportedly stunned by what they found earlier this month during a routine inspection.

According to CBP Chicago, officers stopped a passenger arriving from the Republic of Congo after noticing that their suitcase appeared unusually heavy. Upon opening the bag, officers initially discovered multiple agricultural violations, including approximately 11 pounds of dried beans infested with live pests and 17 pounds of unidentified plant material. While these items alone were enough to warrant seizure, the inspection soon revealed something far more disturbing.

CBP later confirmed that officers discovered roughly four pounds of non-human primate meat inside the suitcase, along with several small mummified primates bound together. Photographs released by the agency showed the dried remains packed among the other prohibited items, prompting immediate confiscation.

In a statement shared on social media platform X, CBP Chicago explained that the passenger believed the items they were transporting were acceptable for entry into the United States. “They were not,” the agency wrote, adding that all prohibited materials were seized and destroyed in accordance with federal regulations.

Despite the alarming nature of the discovery, CBP confirmed that the passenger—who has not been publicly identified—was not charged with a criminal offense. However, authorities emphasized that bringing such items into the country poses serious risks to public health, agriculture, and wildlife conservation.

Meat taken from wild animals in certain regions of Africa, commonly referred to as “bushmeat,” is strictly prohibited in the United States. Bushmeat can include non-human primates, rodents, bats, and antelope species such as duiker. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bushmeat may carry dangerous pathogens, including viruses and bacteria capable of causing severe and sometimes fatal illnesses in humans.

The CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) have both warned that diseases such as Ebola, monkeypox, and other zoonotic infections have been linked to contact with or consumption of wild animal meat. For this reason, U.S. law bans the importation of bushmeat and certain animal products, regardless of whether they are intended for personal consumption.

CBP and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) routinely stress the importance of strict border inspections to prevent invasive pests, animal diseases, and public health threats from entering the country. Reuters and the Associated Press have previously reported on similar seizures at U.S. airports, noting that agricultural and wildlife violations remain a persistent challenge at international ports of entry.

Officials say the incident at O’Hare serves as a reminder that travelers must declare all food, plant, and animal products when entering the United States. Failure to do so, even unintentionally, can result in confiscation, fines, or more serious penalties depending on the circumstances.

While no charges were filed in this case, authorities emphasized that the seizure highlights the critical role border inspections play in protecting public health, agriculture, and endangered wildlife. For CBP officers at one of the world’s busiest airports, it was yet another reminder that even routine inspections can uncover deeply unsettling surprises.