Man arrested at Miami airport for smuggling ten live birds hidden in clothing
Customs agents at Miami International Airport found ten live birds concealed in a Cuban traveler's clothing and charged him with wildlife smuggling.
On Oct. 4, Cuban native Alberto Hernandez Castillo entered Miami International Airport from Havana and was flagged for a secondary customs inspection. After searching his carry-on and fanny pack without finding contraband, agents observed a suspicious bulge around his waist and, noting his nervous demeanor, performed a pat-down. The search revealed six cylindrical, tape-wrapped containers tucked into black pockets sewn inside his underwear, containing ten live birds—eight yellow-faced grassquits and two blue grosbeaks.
Castillo had declared he was not transporting wildlife and had no record of the required import documentation. Federal officials charged him with illegal wildlife smuggling and recommended a $25,000 personal surety bond, with a court date set for Oct. 26.
Why it matters
The case highlights enforcement of U.S. wildlife import laws and the lengths smugglers may go to conceal animals.
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