Someone hatched a bird-brained scheme to smuggle finches into the United States, but was nabbed by a crack team of customs officials.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced this week a passenger was stopped Dec. 8 at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport after a flight from Georgetown, Guyana.
That’s when officials found 70 live finches hidden in hair rollers during an inspection of a duffel bag.
“CBP Agriculture Specialists are the first line of defense to prevent the introduction of animal diseases that have the potential to cause significant damage to the Nation’s agricultural economy,” Troy Miller, director of field operations with the agency’s New York field office, said in a statement.
The discovery is good news for the birds and for the country’s agriculture industry.
In 2015, an outbreak of the bird flu in the United States led to the killing of 50 million commercial turkeys and chickens. It caused about $850-million in losses.
An arriving passenger was stoped by @CBP Agiculture Specialists trying to illegally smuggle 70 Live Finches through #JFK
Read the story here….https://t.co/QWlKcsjw1l pic.twitter.com/xa0KinQiiG— CBP New York City (@CBPNewYorkCity) December 12, 2018
The finches are now under quarantine.
They have been turned over to U.S. Department of Agriculture Veterinary Services.
Officials said the song birds are coveted in the Guyanese community.
There are even contests involving the number of times the birds chirp.
