Man Accused of Smuggling 10 Live Birds Into U.S. in His Underwear

Some people travel with pets, but one man allegedly took that idea to a whole new level.

An Unusual Discovery at the Airport

According to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Alberto Hernandez Castillo, a legal permanent resident of the United States, arrived from Cuba on Sunday. Customs officers reportedly noticed something unusual around his waist, described as an “unexplained bulge.”

That raised enough questions for officers to send him for a secondary inspection.

During a pat-down, authorities allegedly discovered six plastic containers hidden inside specially sewn pockets in his underwear. The containers weren't holding snacks for the flight. Instead, officers reportedly found 10 live birds tucked away inside.

The Birds Were Protected Species

Authorities identified eight of the birds as yellow-faced grassquits and the other two as blue grosbeaks.

A yellow-faced grassquit and a blue grosbeak.

Both species are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, a federal law that protects certain migratory birds. According to the allegations, the birds were brought into the United States without the necessary documentation.

Federal Charges Follow the Airport Incident

The alleged bird-smuggling attempt has now turned into a federal criminal case.

Hernandez Castillo has been charged with smuggling goods into the United States. Following his appearance in court, he was released on a $25,000 bond.