A U.S. Customs and Border Protection K9 named Murray detected prohibited holly leaves, nuts and 11 pounds of raw chicken in a traveler's baggage at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Murray made the big find Feb. 12, when he alerted to the suitcases of a traveler flying into Atlanta from Ecuador.
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One of Murray’s colleagues, a K9 named Chevee, got suspicious about a passenger’s checked bags on a Feb. 5 flight from Ecuador. An inspection revealed fruit, tomatoes and 22 pounds of pork sausage. And in late January, a Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialist found lemons, seeds and the destructive Khapra beetle in wheat in the luggage of a family flying from Saudi Arabia.
The seized food was destroyed and the travelers given a warning for not declaring agriculture products.
Murray has a special history chronicled by the AJC: He was three years old when he joined the Beagle Brigade at Hartsfield-Jackson, after being rescued from abuse.
He had an injured tail, half an ear missing and was timid and scared.
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But he went through training, made the cut and joined U.S. Customs and Border Protection about a year ago.
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Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC
Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC
Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC
Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC
Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC
Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC
Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC
Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC
Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC
Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC
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