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Over 14,000 prohibited items seized at MSP Airport in 2023
The items range from fruit potentially infested with invasive insects to giraffe feces brought to the U.S. to be made into jewelry.
MINNEAPOLIS — More than 31 million people fly in and out of Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) International Airport each year, some arriving from international and exotic locations with plenty of baggage in tow.
It is the job of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agricultural specialists stationed at MSP to make sure items brought to Minnesota won’t introduce livestock diseases or pests that could devastate the state’s agricultural community or make people sick.
If you didn’t know the CBP had ag specialists at the airport, make no mistake: They’re on the job, and they are busy. In fiscal year 2023 ( which ran from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023) CBP inspected nearly 23,000 passenger inspections and intercepted 14,000 prohibited items.
Among the items confiscated include meat and animal carcasses, handicrafts made of invasive materials, grain, fruits potentially infested with invasive insects and giraffe feces destined to be made into jewelry.
Here’s how it works: When passengers arrive from traveling overseas, they are asked if they have anything to declare, specifically pork, beef, or avian products, plants, plant materials, seeds for planting, and fruit. CBPAS are especially checking for meats and meat products from countries affected with diseases like Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, African Swine Fever, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, and Foot and Mouth Disease.
When discovered, either through passenger declarations or searches, the items are destroyed, treated or re-exported out of the country. During fiscal year 2023, more than $245,000 in passenger fines or penalties were collected from individuals importing undeclared or prohibited items.
“Our nation’s food supply is constantly at risk to diseases not known to occur in the United States,” said LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, director of field operations at the Chicago Field Office. “These interceptions highlight the vigilance and dedication our CBP Agriculture Specialists demonstrate, daily. They ensure that the United States is safe from harmful diseases that could affect our food supply.”
Anyone traveling abroad and planning to bring something back is advised to check out the CBP website for information on prohibited items.
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Last week, prosecutors charged John Sawchak with attempted 2nd-degree murder and other felony charges after he allegedly shot his neighbor Davis Moturi.
MINNEAPOLIS — Following the shooting between two neighbors, the Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to request that the city’s auditor conduct an independent investigation into the incidents and cases between Davis Moturi and John Sawchak.
Moturi was allegedly shot by his neighbor, Sawchak, on Wednesday, Oct. 23 but Minneapolis police did not arrest Sawchak until days later.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara defended not arresting Sawchak sooner, calling it a “high-risk” situation. O’Hara later said the victim, who had complained about harassment from Sawchak for months, was failed by police. Sawchak was arrested this past weekend after an hours-long standoff.
Moturi suffered a fractured spine, two broken ribs, and a concussion in the shooting. “Mr. Moturi’s life matters and I’m sorry that for nearly a year, MPD did not treat it like it did,” said Council Member Robin Wonsley in a news release, “Today’s vote affirms that the City Council is committed to taking meaningful actions towards accountability and restoration, starting with this independent review.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey released this statement:
“Mayor Frey fully supports an independent review of this incident. The mayor and City are committed to always doing better, and this means closely examining past actions and finding where there may be ways to improve and grow. The mayor extends his condolences to Davis Moturi, his wife, Caroline, and their family and friends. The safety of our residents is a top priority and any form of violence or hate speech is completely unacceptable and does not align with who we are as a community. Brian O’Hara will continue to be the Minneapolis Police Chief.”
“This Valentine’s Day, 2025, will mark the five-year anniversary of the premiere of ‘Love is Blind,” Vanessa said on the Season 7 finale. “And, it is gonna be the launch of Season 8, which takes place in Minneapolis.”
The episode also revealed three of the new cast members, one of whom, “Alex,” told Lachey Minneapolis is “not like a major city, but it’s also not a small town,” which he said is just one of the obstacles in his way of finding the one.
“I just never found the right person that clicked for me,” he said.
Meantime, you can bone up on Seasons 1-7 streaming now on Netflix.
MINNEAPOLIS — How much do you know about your grandma’s upbringing?
“The Stories From My Grandmother’s Hands” is a book that aims to show young Black children how their grandmas lived through beautiful illustrations and descriptions.
KARE 11 News at Noon shared more on Thursday about the impact that this book will have.
