Miami airport officers find 10 live birds in underwear
Bastillepost · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Federal officers at Miami International Airport arrested Alberto Hernandez Castillo after a secondary inspection uncovered 10 live birds hidden in secret pouches sewn into his underwear. He was later charged in federal court with smuggling goods and released on a US$25,000 bond, with his next court appearance set for October 26
Key Points
- Castillo, described as a Cuban-born man with U.S. permanent resident status, arrived in Miami on a flight from Cuba after a trip he said was to visit family
- He declared only one carry-on bag and one waist pouch, and denied carrying any animals, wildlife, plants, or related products when entering the United States
- Customs officers noticed unexplained bulges around his pelvis and waist and said he appeared nervous, prompting a further search in a secure inspection area
- Officers found black hidden pockets sewn into his underwear containing six transparent cylindrical plastic containers, some wrapped with tape and covered partly with black mesh
- Authorities said the containers held 10 live birds: eight yellow-faced grassquits and two blue grosbeaks, and Castillo could not produce legal import documents
Why It Matters
The case shows how wildlife smuggling attempts can involve live animals concealed on a traveler’s body, creating enforcement and animal welfare concerns at border checkpoints. For Hong Kong readers, it is a reminder that cross-border transport of live animals and wildlife products is tightly regulated and can lead to criminal charges when documentation is missing