A man hid 10 live birds in his underwear at Miami airport

A man returning to the United States after a trip to Cuba was detained at Miami airport after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents discovered 10 live birds hidden in his underwear. Alberto Hernandez Castillo is accused of smuggling goods into the U.S.

The incident occurred during an inspection after agents noticed an unusual bulge around his waist and observed that the man appeared nervous. Although he allegedly told authorities that he was not carrying any animals or wildlife specimens, he was taken to a secure area for a body search.

According to court documents cited by ABC News, agents found six plastic tubes sewn into his underwear. Inside them were the live birds: eight yellow-faced grassquits and two blue grosbeaks.

When asked why he was transporting them, Hernandez Castillo allegedly told investigators that the birds were intended for “personal use.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced that he had been charged, while the Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the case. It is not known what happened to the birds.