Naim Lajud Libien, a Mexican citizen, faces charges of smuggling 12 Orange Fronted Parakeets into the United States using his boots and a car seat compartment. His attempts to cross the border at Otay Mesa Port of Entry on April 29, 2025, were halted following a secondary inspection which revealed unusual bulges near his ankles. Discovery led to the uncovering of the birds wrapped in nylon within his boots. Each bird was tied at the feet and placed in panty hose.
Following the initial discovery, a Customs and Border Protection officer conducted a more thorough search of Lajud Libien's vehicle, prompted by the sound of birds emanating from the impounded car. Six additional parakeets were located inside the vehicle’s seat cushion, also confined within panty hose and bound. Unfortunately, two birds were found deceased, and a third bird displayed signs of severe injury.
The situation has highlighted significant concerns regarding smuggling practices across the border. “Smuggling at the border takes many forms, but the tragic impact on animals forced into such perilous conditions is deeply troubling,” expressed U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “We are committed to holding accountable those who endanger wildlife and public health through these reckless and inhumane smuggling practices.”
The Orange Fronted Parakeet, known scientifically as Eupsittula canicularis, originates from Western Mexico and Costa Rica, and is protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) since 2005. Lajud Libien's attempt could have led the parakeets to enter the U.S. without appropriate quarantine, posing substantial risks to public and animal health through potential disease transmission.
Legal action has been initiated, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Allen and Elizabet Brown leading the prosecution against Lajud Libien. He has been charged with violating 18 U.S.C. § 545 relating to the illegal importation of the birds, a violation that carries a maximum penalty of twenty years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
The case is under the scrutiny of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Homeland Security Investigations. It underscores the complexities involved in wildlife smuggling and the importance of continued vigilance at U.S. borders.
