A man returning from Cuba was arrested at Miami International Airport after authorities discovered he had smuggled live birds in his underwear.
According to NBC Miami, Alberto Hernandez Castillo, 40, was charged with smuggling goods into the United States. On Monday, investigators reported in a complaint that he arrived in Miami on Atlantic Flight 503 from Havana. After the flight, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer selected him for a second inspection. He said he had only one carry-on and one fanny pack, but officers noticed a bulge in the front of his waistband.
What Was Hiding in His Underwear
During the inspection, he became nervous, and officers found six clear plastic containers wrapped in tape and sewn into his underwear. Each tube contained live birds: eight yellow-faced grassquits and two blue grosbeaks.
In total, he allegedly smuggled ten birds and claimed they were for personal use. However, he lacked the proper paperwork to import them.