An Egyptian man has pleaded guilty to federal charges after he kicked a customs dog at Washington Dulles International Airport. Hamad Ramadan Bayoumy Aly Marie, 70, admitted to harming a law enforcement animal during a court appearance in eastern Virginia.
The incident occurred when Marie arrived at the airport from Cairo. A five-year-old beagle named Freddie, trained to detect illegal agricultural products, found over 100 pounds of undeclared items in Marie’s luggage. When Freddie’s handler began questioning him, Marie kicked the dog hard enough that it lifted off the ground.
Freddie suffered contusions to his right rib area from the kick, which was confirmed by a veterinarian. Customs officers quickly detained Marie and discovered a significant amount of prohibited agricultural products in his bags, including beef, rice, eggplant, cucumbers, bell peppers, corn seeds, and herbs. These items were seized to protect against harmful pests and diseases.
Christine Waugh, the director of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for the area, condemned the attack on Freddie, emphasizing the importance of K9 partners in their work. She stated that any violent act against a customs animal is taken very seriously.
Marie was given credit for time served and ordered to pay $840 for Freddie’s veterinary care. He was also instructed to report to CBP for immediate removal from the United States. He left the country on a flight back to Egypt shortly after the court proceedings.