Passenger Caught Attempting to Smuggle 10 Live Birds in Pants at US Border

US Customs and Border Protection officers apprehended a passenger attempting to smuggle ten live birds into the United States by concealing them within his pants. The incident occurred on October 4, when Alberto Hernandez Castillo, a traveler from Cuba, arrived in Miami.

During inspection, officers noticed Castillo appeared nervous and had an "unexplained bulge" in his pelvic and waist area. He was directed to a secondary inspection, where he was presented with a declaration form. Castillo denied bringing any wildlife into the country, despite the form containing specific questions about wildlife imports.

Officers discovered six plastic tubes, wrapped in tape, sewn into Castillo's pants. Each tube contained live birds, totaling ten. The species identified were eight yellow-faced Grassquits and two Blue Grosbeaks, both common in the illegal bird trade. Castillo reportedly stated the birds were for "personal use" before invoking his right to remain silent.

He was subsequently charged with smuggling goods. Castillo appeared in Miami federal court and was released on a $5,000 personal surety bond. His arraignment is scheduled for October 26.

This discovery is part of a broader trend of wildlife smuggling. In a separate incident last year, British authorities intercepted a car containing over 2,000 live tarantulas valued at approximately $84,000 (£70,000) as part of an international operation against illegal wildlife trafficking. That operation also led to the seizure of items such as elephant hair rings, king cobra balm, and shark jaws, among other endangered species and wildlife products, marking a significant increase in such seizures.