United States Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport recently seized endangered seahorses from an international traveler, officials announced today.

The seizure occurred on September 30 when a CBP agriculture specialist found approximately 20 dead seahorses in the baggage of an international traveler arriving from Vietnam. The seahorses seized are banned from being imported in violation of the Endangered Species Act and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

Seahorses are a protected species under the ESA and CITES. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the primary agency responsible for enforcing these laws in the United States. CBP, as the nation’s border agency, works closely with U.S. Fish and Wildlife to ensure that laws protecting endangered species are enforced at every port of entry in the United States.

The goals of these types of laws are to protect threatened species of animals from worldwide extinction. 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.

“This interception is an excellent example of the CBP commitment to partner with other federal agencies whose laws CBP helps to enforce”, said Stephen Kremer CBP area port director in Atlanta. “This type of seizure highlights the diversity of the CBP mission.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 08 October 2009 )