An Egyptian tourist was immediately deported after kicking an airport security dog into the air at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia.
The Incident
Hamed Ramadan Bayoumy Aly Marie, 70, attacked beagle Freddie on Tuesday while waiting for his baggage after arriving from Cairo. The dog had alerted to one of Marie’s bags, which contained over 100 pounds of prohibited food items.
Security footage shows Freddie being kicked so hard he flew into the air. The dog was on his hind legs when Marie suddenly attacked him.
What Was in the Luggage
Freddie detected numerous prohibited items in Marie’s bags:
- 55 pounds of beef meat
- 44 pounds of rice
- 15 pounds of eggplant
- Cucumbers and bell peppers
- 2 pounds of corn seeds
- 1 pound of herbs
Dog’s Injuries
After the attack, Freddie was taken to a veterinarian and found to have contusions on his right forward rib area. The dog has since recovered from his injuries.
Swift Justice
Marie pleaded guilty to harming the security dog and was ordered to pay the veterinary fees. He was then immediately deported from the United States.
Official Response
Christine Waugh, CBP’s Area Port Director for Washington D.C., condemned the attack: “Being caught deliberately smuggling well over one hundred pounds of undeclared and prohibited agriculture products does not give one permission to violently assault a defenseless Customs and Border Protection beagle.”
She added: “We rely heavily on our K9 partners and Freddie was just doing his job. Any malicious attack on one of us is an attack on all of us.”
Importance of Detection Dogs
The CBP explained that their Beagles Brigade plays a vital role in screening passengers and cargo to prevent harmful plant pests and foreign animal diseases from entering the U.S.
“Animal and plant diseases and invasive pests and weeds have cost nations millions to billions of dollars in eradication measures and lost revenues,” they said.
Freddie was simply doing his job when he detected the prohibited agricultural products that could have posed a threat to U.S. agriculture and ecosystems.
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