A Cuban-born traveler is facing federal smuggling charges after customs officers at Miami International Airport discovered live birds sewn into his underwear during an inspection last week.
Alberto Hernandez Castillo, a legal permanent resident of the United States, arrived at the Florida hub on Oct. 4 aboard a flight from Havana, Cuba. CBP officers selected the man for secondary screening after he cleared initial arrival procedures.
During the secondary inspection, officers first searched Castillo’s carry-on bag and fanny pack but found no contraband, according to the federal complaint. The traveler had signed a customs declaration stating he was not bringing animals or wildlife into the country.
The discovery came during routine questioning about his trip, when officers noticed what court documents described as an “unexplained bulge” around Castillo’s waist and pelvic area. The man “appeared nervous,” the complaint noted, prompting officers to conduct a pat-down search.
That search allegedly uncovered six clear cylindrical containers wrapped in tape and tucked inside black pockets that had been sewn into his underwear. The containers held 10 live birds in total.
Officers recovered the animals and preliminarily identified them as eight yellow-faced grassquits and two blue grosbeaks, both species native to the Caribbean region. Photos included in the federal complaint show the containers after removal, as well as how they were allegedly concealed beneath Castillo’s clothing.
When questioned about the birds, Castillo allegedly told authorities they were for his “personal use.” He later invoked his right to remain silent, according to the complaint.
Investigators found no indication that Castillo had filed the documentation required to legally import wildlife into the United States. “There is no evidence, ‘based on the records available at the time of inspection,’ that the man ‘submitted the documentation required for the lawful importation of wildlife,'” the complaint stated.
Castillo was charged with smuggling goods into the United States. Court records recommend a $25,000 personal surety bond for the defendant.
The case highlights ongoing enforcement efforts by CBP at Miami International Airport, a major entry point for travelers from Cuba and throughout Latin America. Wildlife smuggling through concealed methods remains a persistent challenge for customs officers conducting inspections at busy international hubs.
Hernandez Castillo is due back in court in Miami.