Sniffer Dog intercepts 40kg of undeclared meat from Nigerian traveller at Toronto Airport
A detector dog with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has intercepted more than 40 kilograms of undeclared meat at Toronto Pearson International Airport, leading to a fine for a traveller arriving from Nigeria.
The agency disclosed that the dog, named Moby, uncovered the consignment of beef and chicken concealed in a passenger’s luggage during a recent inspection.
According to the CBSA, the traveller failed to declare the food items as required under Canadian law, resulting in a penalty of up to $1,300, alongside the seizure of the goods.
Authorities stressed that all travellers entering Canada are legally required to declare food, plant and animal products in their possession, including both raw and cooked meat, as well as dairy products, seafood and animal by-products.
Failure to comply with these regulations can result in confiscation of the items, financial penalties or possible prosecution.
The CBSA warned that undeclared agricultural products pose significant risks, including the potential spread of invasive species and diseases that could harm the country’s food supply, economy and public health.
“Travellers may not realise the hazards associated with food, plant and animal products,” the agency said, highlighting the importance of strict border controls.
In a separate incident last month, another detector dog named Dharla identified 2.5 kilogrammes of raw meat in the luggage of a traveller arriving from Egypt.
Although the items, which included duck, pigeon, chicken and rabbit, were properly declared, they were denied entry into Canada for failing to meet regulations set by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
No enforcement action was taken in that case, but officials reiterated that even declared products must comply with import standards.
The CBSA continues to rely on trained detector dogs as part of its border enforcement strategy to prevent the entry of prohibited or restricted goods into the country.
