DETROIT – With the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremonies taking place Friday, July 26, many people are traveling out of the country to see the games in person.
Read: Here are the 12 new shops, 6 new restaurants coming to DTW as other contracts expire
It’s important to remember while traveling out of the country that some items can not be brought back with you.
Paris is known for its great food, but those meats and cheeses need to stay there or they’ll be taken before you enter the United States.
After a passenger was detained at Detroit Metro Airport with 90 giant snails in their bag, we got to thinking -- what else is getting intercepted at the airport?
“I’ve been here 20 years and almost every month, there’s something that makes me go ‘Wow, I really have not seen that before.’ And to me, that’s what keeps the job entertaining,” said Tyler Fox, an agricultural specialist with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
In 2023, a dolphin skull was discovered in a passenger’s bag at DTW. It was apparently found by the traveler washed up on the beach, but the Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits bringing anything like that into the country.
It’s not the only skull found at the airport. At one point, agents found several monkey skulls in a passenger’s bag.
“This is an endangered species of monkey,” Fox said. “So that’s why these were detained and then seized by Fish and Wildlife.”
While animal skulls and live snails may seem like obvious things to not pack in your bag overseas, there may be some illegal items that surprise you. Souvenirs made of wood may have insect larvae inside. Beetles and other bugs are a big reason why produce gets intercepted as they could be a threat to the vegetation in the United States.
Fox said most people have the best intentions and that’s why travelers should always declare what they’re bringing back with them.
“If you aren’t sure, let the people who know the answers decide for you,” Fox said. “Don’t end up in a situation where you are fined.”
It’s a $300 fine that can be avoided if you declare the items you bring back.
Travelers are urged to check the current regulations if they’re unsure what they can bring into the United States.
Related: