Federal agents at Miami International Airport arrested a legal permanent resident arriving from Cuba after discovering 10 live birds hidden inside custom compartments sewn into his underwear.
An international arrival at Miami International Airport turned into a wildlife seizure when U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers pulled aside a traveler carrying live animals under his clothing. Alberto Hernandez Castillo, a 40-year-old legal permanent resident of the United States, landed in Florida on a World Atlantic Airlines flight originating from Havana according to court documents.
While standard checks of his carry-on luggage and a small waist bag yielded no contraband, frontline personnel noticed an unexplained swelling near his waistline and observed visible nervousness. Those indicators prompted a detailed physical search in a secure inspection area.
Custom Underwear Compartments Concealed Ten Live Birds
During the pat-down inspection, officers located six transparent plastic cylindrical containers wrapped in adhesive tape and fitted with mesh openings at both ends. These tubes were tucked securely inside custom pockets that had been stitched directly into the passenger’s underwear. Inside the containers, authorities counted a total of 10 live specimens.
The seizure comprised eight tomeguines de la tierra—known in English as yellow-faced grassquits—and two blue grosbeaks, two avian species frequently targeted for illegal wildlife trafficking. Federal investigators noted that the traveler had completed official declaration documents indicating he carried no wildlife or animals, having told inspectors that his trip to Cuba was solely to visit family.
Authorities indicated that Hernández Castillo had failed to present the required documentation or obtain the necessary authorizations to bring the animals into the United States.
Federal Smuggling Charges and Court Release in Miami
When questioned about the unauthorized cargo, Hernandez Castillo maintained that the animals were intended for personal use before invoking his right to remain silence and declining further questions. Subsequently, he decided to exercise his right to remain silent and refused to answer any additional inquiries from investigators. Federal prosecutors subsequently charged the traveler with a single federal count of smuggling goods into the United States.
Following his initial appearance in Miami federal court, judicial officials released the defendant on a $25,000 personal surety bond.
Protected Avian Species Target Florida Black Markets
The illicit movement of small birds remains a point of intense focus for federal authorities across Florida, where specific avian varieties command high value in clandestine markets. Smuggled birds are frequently acquired for private collections, pet ownership, and underground singing competitions.
Among the specimens intercepted at the airport, the blue grosbeak carries specific federal protections under United States environmental law, making any commercial or private import without proper government authorization a federal offense.