Authorities reportedly arrested six individuals in New York on Tuesday for smuggling duck intestines.
Six suspects have been charged after allegedly importing illegal goose and duck intestines from China, federal officials announced, according to The Associated Press (AP).
Some duck and goose intestines were reportedly covered under wrapped rattlesnakes, while others were mislabeled as pet grooming products on customs paperwork, authorities said. The suspects were also accused of illegally importing duck blood and hawthorn fruit, the outlet reported.
Six people have been arrested in New York on charges of illegally importing goose and duck intestines from China. Federal authorities said some of the items were hidden under wrapped rattlesnakes or mislabeled as pet grooming products. https://t.co/TOmdgkGRVC
— AP Oddities (@AP_Oddities) March 5, 2024
The suspects allegedly sent the prohibited items from China to California, according to the outlet. Once in California, the illegal foods were reportedly shipped to New York, where they were sold to customers and some restaurants, a complaint filed Monday said.
The six suspects face federal charges of illegally importing, storing and selling hundreds of pounds of food between August 2022 and May 2023, the AP reported. Raw chicken products and hawthorn fruits originating from China are federally prohibited from being imported into the United States, authorities said, according to the outlet. (RELATED: Egg Prices So High, People Turn to International Smuggling)
The complaint alleges that 1,966 cartons of goose and duck intestines were mislabeled in customs documentation as nail clippers and various pet grooming products, then shipped from China to the Port of Long Beach in August 2022, AP reported. From there, the shipment was sent to Los Angeles International Airport, then flew to New York, according to the outlet. Another shipment of illegal chicken products was reportedly mislabeled as frozen seafood on Nov. 2022.
The suspects are scheduled to appear in federal court in Brooklyn on Tuesday, the AP reported.
