Two men charged after 21 live birds found hidden in their clothing at Miami airport

Customs officers at Miami International Airport found 21 live birds concealed in the clothing of two men who arrived separately on flights from Havana, according to federal criminal complaints cited by UPI and The New York Times. Alberto Hernandez Castillo was carrying 10 birds and Roberto Perez Quincosa 11. Each man was charged with smuggling, The Seattle Times reported. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]

Hernandez Castillo, a native of Cuba and a legal permanent resident of the United States, arrived in Miami on Sunday, Oct. 4, and was selected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers for a secondary inspection. He had signed a customs declaration indicating he was not bringing animals or wildlife into the country, according to court documents. Officers searched his carry-on bag and fanny pack without finding contraband. During questioning, officers noticed an "unexplained bulge" around his waist and pelvic area and said he "appeared nervous," prompting a pat-down. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]

The pat-down revealed six clear cylindrical containers wrapped in tape and tucked inside black pockets sewn into his underwear, according to the complaint. Officers recovered 10 birds, preliminarily identified as eight yellow-faced grassquits and two blue grosbeaks. The Seattle Times reported that each tube held one or two birds and that the blue grosbeaks are a protected species. Hernandez Castillo told authorities the birds were for his "personal use" and later invoked his right to remain silent. UPI reported that federal investigators said he lacked the documentation required to import the animals. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]

Perez Quincosa, who arrived on Tuesday on a separate flight from Havana, was arrested after officials made similar observations about him, The Seattle Times reported. According to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agent's account, he had devised a belt-like garment holding hair roller tubes with holes along their length, capped with netting material and wrapped in electrical tape. UPI, citing NBC 6 South Florida, reported that the 11 birds were in 11 plastic hair-roller tubes bundled with black electrical tape and hidden beneath his clothing. The birds were six Cuban melodious finches and five Cuban bullfinches. UPI reported that, according to the arrest affidavit, he told investigators he intended to breed and sell the birds in the United States for between $100 and $120 each. [ 4 , 5 ]

UPI described both men as Cuban nationals and lawful permanent residents and gave Hernandez Castillo's age as 40; The Seattle Times gave Perez Quincosa's age as 41. Authorities have not said whether the cases are related. A lawyer for Hernandez Castillo did not respond to a request for comment, and it was unknown whether Perez Quincosa had a lawyer, The Seattle Times reported. [ 4 , 5 ]