6 suspected of illegally importing goose intestines, duck blood at Port of Long Beach and LAX – Pasadena Star News

This November 2022 photo provided by the United States Attorney’s office, shows wrapped snake meat found in an illegal shipment to New York of duck and goose intestines from China. Six people were arrested in New York on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 on charges of illegally importing goose and duck intestines from China, in some cases by hiding them under -pack rattlesnakes or mislabeling them as pet grooming products on customs forms, federal officials announced. (US Attorney’s Office, EDNY via AP)

NEW YORK — Six people were arrested in New York on Tuesday on charges of illegally importing goose and duck intestines from China, in some cases by hiding them under wrapped rattlesnakes or mislabeling them as pet grooming products on customs forms, federal officials announced.

The scheme, which also involved illegal imports of duck blood and hawthorn fruit, involved transporting restricted foods from China to California and then to New York, where they were sold to customers, including restaurants, authorities said in a complaint filed Monday.

The six, who are expected to appear in federal court in Brooklyn later Tuesday, are charged with importing, storing and selling hundreds of pounds of illegal foods between August 2022 and May 2023. Messages seeking comment were sent to their lawyers.

Federal law prohibits the importation of any raw chicken products from China, and hawthorn fruit from China is also restricted, authorities said.

According to the complaint, 1,966 cartons of goose and duck intestines were shipped in August 2022 from China to the Port of Long Beach, where they were identified as nail clippers and other pet grooming products at customs. forms.