Man with “unexplained swelling” caught with 10 birds alive in boxers

Ua 40-year-old man was arrested on October 4, after being caught with 10 live birds in the boxers when he landed at Miami International Airport in the United States.

Alberto Hernandez Castillo was called aside by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents shortly after arriving at the airport on a World Atlantic Airlines flight from Havana, Cuba.

The Cuban citizen, who has a permanent residence permit in the United States, said he had nothing to declare and had been on the island to visit the family, according to a criminal complaint that WPLG Local 10 had access to.

“ During the interrogation, CBP agents observed an unexplained swelling in the front of the pelvis/scent area and noticed that he seemed nervous”, described an agent, pointing out that colleagues decided to search him.

“ The magazine revealed that Hernandez Castillo hid six cylindrical transparent plastic containers, each wrapped in adhesive tape with some black mesh material attached to the openings. The tubes were sewn to his underwear. Each tube contained live birds”, added, detailing that they were 10 birds.

In concrete, eight specimens of yellow-faced grass and two of royal tile were found, two species often linked to the illegal trade in birds.

The complaint also pointed out that the man justified that the birds were intended for “personal use”, having evoked his right to remain silent. In addition, there is no evidence that you have provided the necessary documentation to import the animals.

The man, who faces a smuggling charge, was present in court on Monday and released on bail of $25,000 (about $22,375).