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Bush meat? Not so fast.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Dulles International Airport are on a constant lookout for often bizarre, and illegal, items. Travel writer Andrea Sachs spent a day and a half at Dulles to understand the multistep declarations procedure and sneak a peek behind the Customs curtain.

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Kelly French, left, a Fish and Wildlife officer, and Prabasini Tripathy, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, open packages of bush meat and dry cow skin confiscated from a passenger arriving from Cameroon in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Kelly French, a Fish and Wildlife officer, opens a pack of bush meat and dry cow skin confiscated from a passenger arriving from Cameroon in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

Kelly French, a Fish and Wildlife officer, opens a pack of bush meat and dry cow skin confiscated from a passenger arriving from Cameroon in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

A copy of a Customs declaration card, which all passengers traveling from abroad must fill out upon arriving in the United States.

A copy of a Customs declaration card, which all passengers traveling from abroad must fill out upon arriving in the United States.

Officer Dennis Torrey, an agricultural specialist, confiscates dry cow skin from a passenger arriving from Cameroon in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

Officer Dennis Torrey, an agricultural specialist, confiscates dry cow skin from a passenger arriving from Cameroon in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Leopard skin confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

Leopard skin confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

A leopard skin belt confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

A leopard skin belt confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

A tegu lizard shoe confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

A tegu lizard shoe confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

A sea turtle skin belt confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport. The sea turtle is listed as an endangered species.

A sea turtle skin belt confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport. The sea turtle is listed as an endangered species.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

A sea turtle skin boot confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

A sea turtle skin boot confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

A cobra skin purse confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

A cobra skin purse confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

A python skin purse confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport. The skin purse is classified as a wildlife product. It’s contraband because the species is endangered.

A python skin purse confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport. The skin purse is classified as a wildlife product. It’s contraband because the species is endangered.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

A piece of wood that shows clear signs of a wood-boring insect was confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

A piece of wood that shows clear signs of a wood-boring insect was confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Dog food confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

Dog food confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Giant African snail shells confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International. The giant African snail may appear slow and harmless, but it’s a destructive eating machine and deemed mollusk non grata.

Giant African snail shells confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International. The giant African snail may appear slow and harmless, but it’s a destructive eating machine and deemed mollusk non grata.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

An African dwarf crocodile purse confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

An African dwarf crocodile purse confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Elephant ivory confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

Elephant ivory confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

An elephant skin belt confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

An elephant skin belt confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

A walrus ivory bracelet confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport. Ivory is banned because walruses are a protected species.

A walrus ivory bracelet confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport. Ivory is banned because walruses are a protected species.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

A painted ostrich egg confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport. The egg could harbor the avian flu virus.

A painted ostrich egg confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport. The egg could harbor the avian flu virus.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

A peacock feather confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

A peacock feather confiscated from a passenger in international customs at Dulles International Airport.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

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