Egyptian Man’s Violent Outburst at Dulles Airport Leads to His Deportation After Kicking Freddie the Beagle, the Hero Canine Smuggler-Sniffer: A Shocking Case of Smuggling and Animal Cruelty

In a shocking turn of events at Washington Dulles International Airport, an Egyptian man was deported after he was caught kicking Freddie, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) canine officer, during an attempt to smuggle prohibited agricultural products into the United States. The 70-year-old man, identified as Hamed Ramadan Bayoumy Aly Marie, not only faced federal charges for assaulting an animal used in law enforcement but also saw his illegal activities unravel in the most unexpected of ways.

This unsettling incident occurred on a seemingly routine day at the airport on Tuesday, when Freddie, a 5-year-old beagle trained specifically to detect prohibited agricultural goods, alerted his handler to a suspicious suitcase belonging to Marie. Freddie’s expert snout had detected undeclared agricultural products in the man’s baggage, which set off a sequence of events that would ultimately lead to both criminal prosecution and the man’s forced deportation.

The moment Freddie alerted to the bag, the CBP officer began to question Marie, leading to an aggressive response that would shock the public. In a violent act, the elderly man kicked Freddie with enough force to lift the 25-pound beagle off the ground, causing contusions to Freddie’s right rib area. The attack was swift and brutal, and the CBP officers responded immediately, apprehending the man and placing him under arrest.

Marie, who had been arriving from Cairo, Egypt, was detained by CBP officers and transferred to Homeland Security Investigations agents for further legal processing. On Wednesday, Marie pled guilty to federal charges of harming an animal used in law enforcement and was promptly ordered to pay for Freddie’s veterinary care. He was also given credit for time served and instructed to report for removal from the United States. Less than a day later, he was aboard a flight back to Egypt, having been deported for his criminal actions.

But this violent outburst wasn’t the only thing that marred the incident. The investigation revealed that Marie was attempting to bring in a vast array of prohibited agricultural products into the United States. CBP agriculture specialists, who were conducting an inspection of the luggage based on Freddie’s alert, discovered an alarming stash of items. The baggage contained 55 pounds of beef meat, 44 pounds of rice, 15 pounds of eggplant, cucumbers, and bell peppers, as well as two pounds of corn seeds and a pound of herbs – all of which were banned from entry into the country due to concerns over plant and animal diseases, as well as invasive pests.

This illegal attempt to smuggle prohibited goods highlights a significant risk to public health and safety. The agricultural products that were seized could have brought with them diseases and pests that could have wreaked havoc on U.S. ecosystems, costing millions, if not billions, of dollars to eradicate and causing long-term damage to the economy. This case serves as a reminder of the constant vigilance needed by CBP officers and the critical role that trained canine units like Freddie play in safeguarding U.S. borders.

Christine Waugh, the CBP’s Area Port Director for Washington, D.C., stressed the severity of the attack, saying, “Being caught deliberately smuggling well over one hundred pounds of undeclared and prohibited agriculture products does not give one permission to violently assault a defenseless Customs and Border Protection beagle. We rely heavily on our K9 partners, and Freddie was just doing his job. Any malicious attack on one of us is an attack on all of us.”

The U.S. government and its various agencies, such as CBP, rely on a vast network of trained officers and canines to prevent the entry of illicit and potentially harmful products into the country. Every day, thousands of travelers arrive from across the globe, and CBP agriculture specialists, along with their canine partners, inspect the baggage of international passengers for prohibited items, including plant and animal products. During a typical day last year, CBP teams seized over 3,500 prohibited goods, including plant and animal byproducts, soil, and pests. Their vigilance is essential in maintaining the health of U.S. agriculture and preventing the spread of diseases.

Freddie, the brave beagle who played a pivotal role in preventing the smuggling of these dangerous items, has become somewhat of a hero within the CBP community. His training and dedication to his job saved the U.S. from a potential crisis involving invasive species and agricultural diseases. While Freddie is recovering from the physical and emotional toll of the assault, his work has not gone unnoticed. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the lengths to which some individuals will go to bypass U.S. law, and the dedication of law enforcement officers and their canine partners in keeping the country safe.

This case also sheds light on the broader issue of agricultural smuggling and the serious consequences it can have on the nation. The introduction of foreign pests and diseases can devastate entire industries, including farming and agriculture, which are vital to the U.S. economy. The constant battle against smuggling is fought not only at airports but also at ports, on cargo ships, and along the borders, where CBP officers work tirelessly to prevent harmful items from entering the country.

In the end, the assault on Freddie the beagle and the subsequent deportation of Hamed Ramadan Bayoumy Aly Marie sends a strong message: the United States takes the safety and security of its borders seriously, and any attempt to harm its dedicated law enforcement officers, whether human or canine, will not be tolerated. The vigilance of CBP officers, alongside the exceptional training of their canine partners, continues to be an essential line of defense in protecting the country from illicit activities that threaten its agricultural integrity and public safety.

As Freddie recovers from his ordeal, the story of his bravery and the swift justice that followed serves as a testament to the importance of teamwork, dedication, and the unwavering commitment of those who work tirelessly to keep the United States safe.