Rare Leeches Destined For Connecticut Intercepted In Philly: CBP

CONNECTICUT — Jars of bloodsucking leeches destined for Connecticut were intercepted in Philadelphia after they arrived in air cargo shipments from Bulgaria, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said.

Calling them "slimy, slithering bloodsuckers," CBP officers said in a news release that nine plastic jars of the animals arrived in six air cargo shipments between Feb. 19 and 25.

In total, roughly 300 leeches were destined for addresses in Connecticut, Florida and Illinois, officials said.

Though labels on the jars referred to the species as Hirudo Orientalis, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service inspector identified them as Hirudo Medicinalis, a species of leech used in medical bloodletting treatments.

The inspector determined the shipments violated the Endangered Species Act, which prohibits unlicensed possession, trade, import and export of protected wildlife species, CSP officials said.

CBP officers gave the jars to USFWS agents after completing the last seizures on Thursday.

"Customs and Border Protection officers and agriculture specialists often encounter unique and interesting things, like this jar full of icky bloodsuckers, while inspecting goods being imported to the United States," said Joseph Martella, CBP's Area Port Director in Philadelphia. "CBP officers remain committed to collaborating with federal, state and local law enforcement partners to intercept shipments that violate our nation’s laws and potentially threaten harm to our nation’s citizens and our economy."