WASHINGTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s beloved agricultural detector dog, K9 Freddie, is officially back on the job at Washington Dulles International Airport after recovering from injuries sustained in a June assault by an international traveler.
The 5-year-old beagle, a member of CBP’s Beagle Brigade, was kicked during a luggage inspection on June 24 after alerting his handler to a suitcase containing over 100 pounds of undeclared agricultural products. The items — including raw meat, rice, vegetables, corn seeds and herbs — were flagged as potential biosecurity threats.
According to CBP officials, 70-year-old Hamed Ramadan Bayoumy Aly Marie had just arrived on EgyptAir Flight 981 from Cairo when Freddie alerted to his bag. As the handler began questioning Marie, the traveler delivered what CBP described as an “intentional kick,” striking Freddie in the right ribcage with enough force to lift the dog off the ground.
Freddie was immediately taken to an emergency veterinary clinic and treated for bruising and rib contusions. The assault prompted widespread public concern and outpourings of support across social media.
Marie was arrested and charged with malicious assault on a law enforcement animal. He pleaded guilty, was ordered to pay $840 in veterinary expenses and was deported back to Egypt on June 26.
After more than two weeks of rest and medical monitoring, Freddie has returned to full duty at Dulles. On July 11, Washington Dulles International Airport shared the following update on social media: “We know there was a lot of concern over CBP’s K9 Freddie. We are happy to report he is back at work!!”
CBP officials say Freddie is once again helping protect U.S. agriculture by detecting prohibited imports, a critical role in preventing the spread of foreign pests and diseases.
A Trusted Partnership: Beagle Brigade’s Mission and Legacy
Dogs have a long history of working in partnership with humans. Building on that relationship, U.S. Customs and Border Protection detector dogs are a vital tool in protecting American agriculture from foreign animal diseases and plant pests. A trained agriculture dog can identify specific odors — such as citrus fruits or live snails — that would otherwise go undetected in luggage, cargo or mail.
The Beagle Brigade was first launched by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 1984 at Los Angeles International Airport with a single beagle trained to sniff out banned food items in passenger baggage. Beagles were chosen for their friendly demeanor, compact size, strong food drive and exceptional sense of smell.
The program expanded in 2000 with Labrador retrievers assigned to non-passenger environments along the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders, forming the “Border Brigade” and “Cargo Brigade.” In 2003, when CBP absorbed USDA’s agricultural inspection duties, approximately 75 canine teams joined the agency.
Today, CBP’s agriculture canine program includes more than 180 teams working at airports, seaports, border crossings, cruise terminals and international mail facilities. All detector dogs are trained at the USDA National Detector Dog Training Center (NDDTC) in Newnan, Georgia — a facility built in 2009 and certified for environmental sustainability. Most dogs are adopted from shelters or donated by private owners.
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