Sunday at the airport in new York was arrested a resident of Connecticut, who returned from South America with about 3 dozen live birds, each of which were hidden in plastic curlers in his Luggage and which, according to the police statement, he wanted to sell profitably.
Francis Guruju (39 years old), passed customs inspection at the International airport of a name of John Kennedy in Queens after returning to Guyana. Officers of customs and border protection found 34 live songbirds, which Guruju allegedly planned to sell to participate in lucrative competitions songbirds in new York.
In court submissions noted that Guruju acknowledged that «planned smuggling of imported birds in his hand Luggage» to each of them to sell for about $3000, that is, in General, he planned to profit of $102 thousand.
Man arrested at New York airport for allegedly smuggling song 34 live birds hidden inside plastic hair curlers https://t.co/k2KcRrgUAR pic.twitter.com/JnZlAKVnCe
— Johnny Brightman (@Johnnybrightman) June 18, 2019
Members of the family of finches are used for competitions songbirds in Brooklyn and Queens, according to the customs border control of the United States. Although birds can be purchased in America, it is believed that birds imported from Guyana, have better votes.
«During these competitions, often held in public places such as parks, 2 singing bird and the judges will decide which of them sings better» — it is specified in court materials. Prosecutors said that the value of the poultry grows to $5000, if it is recognized a champion.
Officers of customs and border protection said that in 2018 in the U.S. seized approximately 200 birds of the family of finches. In December they detained a passenger flying to new York from Guyana with 70 live birds in the hand Luggage, also hidden in curlers.
Guruju called to criminal responsibility Monday on charges of illegal smuggling of wild birds. He was released when his family posted bail of $25 thousand. the Judge decided to confiscate his passport, and his movements restricted in new York and Connecticut.
