Photo Courtesy of CBP
A traveler recently was caught trying to smuggle nearly six-dozen live finches through John F. Kennedy International Airport, according to federal officials.
The man arrived on Sunday, Dec. 8, on a flight from Georgetown, Guyana. During the course of inspection, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists discovered 70 live finches concealed within hair rollers in a black duffel bag. They were subsequently detained under quarantine and turned over to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Veterinary Services.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, some people import finches to enter them in singing competitions in Queens and Brooklyn. Many who attend the contests wager on the birds.
