U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at San Diego's Otay Mesa and San Ysidro Ports of Entry intercepted two wildlife smuggling attempts involving 28 parrots and three chickens. The incidents occurred on April 30 and May 4, respectively.
The first incident involved a 51-year-old male driving a 2017 SUV from Mexico to the United States. During a secondary inspection, CBP officers noticed unusual bulges in the driver's clothing around his ankles. A pat-down revealed six live parrots concealed within his boots, while an additional six undeclared parrots were found near the front passenger seat, with two deceased.
The second case involved a 26-year-old male in a 2015 SUV, accompanied by passengers. In the vehicle's trunk, officers discovered two cages under a moving blanket: one containing 16 live parakeets and another with three live chickens.
Sidney Aki, San Diego Director of Field Operations, emphasized the dangers associated with bird smuggling: “Birds can also be hosts for a variety of diseases that can threaten native wildlife and U.S. agricultural industries, potentially causing widespread economic consequences.”
Both drivers were detained alongside their passengers and referred to Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services for further investigation. The seized birds are currently quarantined by U.S. Department of Agriculture Veterinary Services to ensure they are disease-free.
CBP collaborates with various government agencies such as USFWS, USDA, CDC, as well as state and international law enforcement bodies to prevent foreign animal diseases' introduction into the U.S., safeguard animal welfare, and curb communicable diseases' spread.
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