Man at US Checkpoint Had Parakeets in His Pants
One of the birds, recovering after the sedative wore off. (US attorney's office for the Southern District of California)
A man accused of attempting to smuggle wildlife into the United States is now facing serious federal charges after border officers discovered two sedated parakeets hidden in his pants at the US-Mexico border. Federal prosecutors say Jesse Martinez, 35, a U.S. citizen living in Mexico, was indicted Friday on a smuggling charge following the unusual incident.
Martinez attempted to cross into Southern California in late October when customs officers noticed an odd bulge in his clothing, according to the New York Times. After initially insisting the bulge was natural, he eventually admitted he had concealed birds in his groin area. Officers found two orange-fronted parakeets— a protected species native to Mexico—unconscious but alive inside small brown sacks, the Washington Post reports.
Martinez told authorities he lacked the required documentation to bring the birds into the country, claiming they belonged to his uncle and that he planned to keep them in a shoebox inside his vehicle. Court documents show this was not his first encounter with wildlife smuggling: in September, he was caught attempting to bring a parrot across the border, which was later euthanized.
The rescued parakeets are now being held in quarantine at a Department of Agriculture facility in New York. Orange-fronted parakeets are listed as “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List, with the illegal pet trade considered a major threat to the species. If convicted, Martinez could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
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