People try to smuggle a lot of things into the United States. Usually you hear of something along the lines of drugs or weapons, but in this case, a man was recently arrested for allegedly smuggling 35 birds from Guyana into New York City.
According to a complaint by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, 36-year-old Kevin Andre McKenzie was found with 35 live finches stuffed in hair rollers sealed with netting inside of his jacket and around his ankles when searched by customs at New York’s JFK airport.
McKenzie told authorities he was offered $3,000 to smuggle the birds into the U.S. for a singing competition. He allegedly received $500 before the flight, with the remaining $2500 due after he made it successfully.
Kathryn McCabe, a special agent for the US Fish and Wildlife Service involved in the investigation, explained in the written complaint, “In such contests, often conducted in public areas like parks, two finches sing, and a judge selects the bird determined to have the best voice.”
“Many who attend the singing contests wager on the birds. A finch who wins these competitions becomes valuable and can sell for more than $10,000,” McCabe continued. “Although certain species of finch are available in the United States, species from Guyana are believed to sing better and are therefore more valuable.”
After Monday’s arrest, he was charged and released on a $25,000 bond.