You’d think kicking a working dog at the airport would land you in serious trouble.
For one Egyptian traveler, it did just that—plus a ticket straight back home.
Hamed Ramadan Bayoumy Aly Marie, 70, pleaded guilty this week to kicking Freddie the Beagle.
Freddie is a sniffer dog working for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Washington Dulles International Airport.
The pup was sniffing out smuggled agricultural items when he flagged Marie’s luggage from a Cairo flight.
Rather than cooperate, Marie lashed out—literally.
What Happened?
According to officials, he kicked Freddie so hard the 25-pound beagle flew into the air.
Surveillance footage showed Freddie mid-leap, ears flying. A vet later confirmed bruising near his ribs.
Inside the bag? Over 100 pounds of banned food—beef, rice, veggies, and seeds—all of which could carry diseases harmful to US agriculture.
Marie pleaded guilty to harming a law enforcement animal, was fined $840 for Freddie’s vet bills, and was swiftly deported back to Egypt.
CBP called it a rare and troubling incident. “Our canines are not only vital to national safety,” one officer said, “they’re family.”
