Precious, Homemade Flutes Destroyed by U.S. Customs Agents

The flutes of a virtuoso were destroyed by U.S. Customs officials over the New Year’s holiday.

The Boston Globe reports that the flautist Boujemaa Razgui, who frequently performs with the Boston Camerata, a music ensemble, arrived at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City on his way to Boston.  He was carrying 13 rare, handmade flutes.  U.S. Customs officials mistook them for bamboo, and said they were agricultural products.

Razgui was not present when officials opened up his bag for inspection, but when his baggage arrived in Boston, the flutes were gone.  “They told me they were destroyed. Nobody talked to me. They said I have to write a letter to the Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. This is horrible. I don’t know what to do. I’ve never written letters to people,” he told the Boston Globe.

Razgui, a Canadian citizen who has a U.S. green card for employment, was flying to the U.S. from Marrakech, Morocco.