Monkey Meat Case

(New York City) A 39-year-old female immigrant from West Africa, Mamie Manneh, faces charges of meat smuggling.

Apparently, Manneh was found to be the recipient of 12 boxes from Guinea identified on flight manifests as containing dresses and smoked fish. However,

[S]tashed underneath the smoked fish, the inspectors found what West Africans refer to as bushmeat: "skulls, limbs and torsos of non-human primate species" plus the hoof and leg of a small antelope, according to court papers.

Also, a search of Manneh's home found "a tiny, hairy arm hidden in her garage."

"Monkey," she explained, claiming the arm was sent to her out of the blue "as a gift from God in heaven."

West African immigrants reportedly associate consumption of monkey meat with religious occasions. Baptisms, Easter, Christmas are all celebrated by eating monkey. The immigrants claim, "We eat bushmeat for our souls."

Unfortunately, it's against the law in the United States for a variety of reasons. Harvesting bushmeat kills protected species and there are potential health risks from "diseases like Lassa fever, Ebola, HIV, SARS and monkeypox."

Manneh's case is pending in federal court and, if convicted, she faces a possible five years in prison and deportation.

By the way, how come the PETA crowd isn't loudly on this case? Eating monkey has got to be breaking all the animal rights rules.

Tip: slwlion