An Egyptian causes a stir at an American airport...in his bag are “molokhiya, pigeons, and mango”

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In a remarkable incident, the contents of an Egyptian traveler’s bag aroused the attention of the authorities at Detroit Airport in the US state of Michigan, after it included unexpected contents that included “raw pigeons, mango fruits, and molokhiya leaves,” which are products that the American authorities prohibit entry into.

A video clip published by the official account of the Director of the Field Operations Office of US Customs and Border Protection in Detroit showed a police dog named “Marley” detecting products inside luggage coming from Egypt, while the bags were passing on the baggage conveyor inside the arrivals hall.

When the bag was searched, its contents appeared, which included “raw pigeons, mango fruits, and fresh molokhiya leaves,” in a scene that caught attention and sparked interaction on social media platforms.

The customs official's account indicated that Marley's sense of smell was not mistaken in detecting these products, calling on travelers to declare all food and agricultural products they carry when entering the United States, to avoid delays and fines.

The United States imposes restrictions on the entry of some food and agricultural products through its airports and border crossings, with the aim of reducing the transmission of plant pests and diseases that may threaten agricultural crops and livestock.

Note that the products subject to bans or restrictions include types of meat, poultry, fresh fruits and vegetables, plants and seeds, and the conditions for allowing their entry vary according to the nature of the product, the country of origin and the method of its processing.

While the US Department of Agriculture explains that most fresh fruits and vegetables are not allowed to be brought in by travelers, due to the possibility that they may carry pests or plant diseases, meat and poultry are also subject to restrictions that vary depending on their source and applicable health requirements.

US Customs and Border Protection also requires travelers to declare the food and agricultural products they are carrying, even if they are not sure whether they will be allowed in, and what they are carrying is referred for examination to determine whether it meets entry requirements.