100s Of Leeches From Bulgaria Seized By Customs In Philadelphia

Philadelphia PA

09 March, 2022

4:19 PM

Description

PHILADELPHIA — Customs and Border Protection officers in Philadelphia found several hundred leeches in air cargo shipments recently. According to customs, about 300 leeches were seized from six shipments from Bulgaria to addresses in Connecticu, Florida, and Illisnois between Feb. 19 and Feb. 25. The leeches, which are species used in medical bloodletting treatments called Hirudo Medicinalis, were found in nine jars, officials said. Labels on each of the jars identified the slimy critters as Hirudo Orientalis. But after officers sent photos of the leeches to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service inspector, the inspector identified the species as Hirudo Medicinalis. The USFWS inspector determined that the shipments violated the U.S. Endangered Species Act, which prohibits the unlicensed possession, trade, import and export of protected species of wildlife or wildlife products. Additionally, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, Appendix II strictly regulates the international trade of specimens of wild animals and plants to ensure species survival. Customs officers completed the last seizures on Thursday and turned them over to USFWS agents. "Customs and Border Protection officers and agriculture specialists often encounter unique and interesting things, like this jar full of icky bloodsuckers, while inspecting goods being imported to the United States," said Joseph Martella, CBP's Area Port Director in Philadelphia. "CBP officers remain committed to collaborating with federal, state and local law enforcement partners to intercept shipments that violate our nation's laws and potentially threaten harm to our nation's citizens and our economy."