Man caught smuggling parakeets in his boots at US-Mexico border, officials say

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On April 29, 2025, a 54-year-old Mexican citizen was arrested at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in San Diego for attempting to smuggle 12 protected orange-fronted parakeets into the United States.

During a secondary inspection, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered six birds tied by their feet and hidden in nylon stockings inside the man's boots.

Later, six more parakeets were found concealed in the passenger seat cushion of his car, two were dead, one had a broken neck, and three were in poor health.

These parakeets, native to western Mexico and Costa Rica, have been protected since 2005 due to potential health risks they pose if not properly quarantined. The man was charged with importation contrary to law and, if convicted, could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

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