Imagine a 25-pound Beagle, just doing his job, getting launched into the air by a vicious kick at a major U.S. airport.
The BBC reported that that’s exactly what happened at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C., when a 70-year-old Egyptian national, Hamed Ramadan Bayoumy Aly Marie, admitted guilt for assaulting Freddie, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) canine tasked with sniffing out smuggled goods.
This disturbing incident unfolded early on a Tuesday morning around 6:30 local time in the baggage claim area of Dulles Airport.
Freddie, a dedicated Beagle, was hard at work detecting agricultural contraband when he flagged a piece of luggage arriving from Cairo. Little did he know, his keen nose would lead to a brutal encounter.
The luggage belonged to Marie, who briefly spoke with a CBP officer before unleashing a shocking act of aggression. Surveillance footage captures the moment—Freddie, weighing just 25 pounds, was kicked so hard he was lifted off the ground, his ears standing up mid-air. It’s a gut-wrenching image of a loyal public servant betrayed by someone who disregarded the rules.
After the attack, poor Freddie was rushed to a veterinary emergency room for treatment. Vets discovered contusions on his right rib area, a painful reminder of the risks these animals face while protecting our borders. If that doesn’t tug at the heartstrings of any law-abiding citizen, what will?
Now, let’s talk about why Freddie was on the case in the first place. A search of Marie’s luggage revealed over 100 pounds of prohibited food items—beef, rice, eggplant, cucumbers, bell peppers, corn seeds, and herbs.
These aren’t just snacks; they’re potential carriers of diseases that could devastate native plants and animals, posing a real threat to American agriculture.
It’s no small matter when someone tries to sneak in banned goods, ignoring the consequences for our ecosystems. Once these diseases take root, they’re nearly impossible to eradicate, and it’s dogs like Freddie who stand on the front lines to stop them. Yet, instead of gratitude, Freddie got a boot to the ribs.
Marie’s actions didn’t just harm a defenseless animal; they exposed a blatant disregard for the laws that keep our country safe.
This isn’t about being “woke” or overly sensitive—it’s about respecting the systems that protect our food supply and our way of life. When progressive agendas push for lax border policies, incidents like this remind us why enforcement matters.
Following the incident, Marie had his day in court on Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to harming an animal used in law enforcement. That’s a start, but it hardly feels like enough for an act of violence against a creature who couldn’t fight back. Still, justice must be measured and fair, even when tempers flare.
The court sentenced Marie to time served, a decision that might leave some wondering if the punishment fits the crime.
He was also ordered to cover Freddie’s veterinary bill of $840—a small price for the pain inflicted. At least it’s a nod to accountability, something often missing in today’s overly lenient judicial trends.
By Thursday afternoon, Marie was no longer on American soil. After his court appearance, he was placed on a flight back to Egypt, effectively deported for his actions.
It’s a swift resolution, but one can’t help but question if stronger deterrents are needed for such reckless behavior.
Let’s not forget Freddie in all this—the real hero of the story. Despite the trauma, his work highlights the unseen dangers CBP animals face daily to shield us from agricultural threats. These