A man was stopped at New York City’s John F. Kennedy Airport after it was discovered he tried to smuggle in 27 live birds in hair rollers from Guyana.
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The 26-year-old man was entering New York on a flight from Georgetown, Guyana, and was required to undergo secondary baggage examination when U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers found the finches tightly secured in hair rollers. The birds were immediately removed from his luggage and placed in quarantine before being turned over to the United States Department of Agriculture Veterinary Services.
As for the unidentified man, he was placed on a flight back to Guyana on Monday. Before the discovery, he listed a New Jersey address as his final destination after exiting the flight. Officers did not arrest him but he was charged with a $300 civil penalty.
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Special Agent of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ryan Noel thanked the officers for discovering the birds and placing them in a safer location.
“The smuggling of these birds in hair curlers shows the horror of wildlife trafficking. I would like to thank U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for their assistance with this case. By working together, we can help protect humans, and wildlife, for future generations.”
SOURCE: The Daily Mail