Image by Charlene WoodNOGALES, Ariz. -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers have stopped the smuggling of a pair of parrots across the Arizona-Mexico border at Nogales.
The orange-fronted conures were found inside a shoe box when CBP agriculture specialists searched a pickup truck.
"Trafficking in protected or endangered species is something our officers and agriculture specialists are very concerned with," said acting Port Director Craig Hope, "When we encounter someone trying to smuggle birds into the country, we have to take action to protect the birds, protect people and natural resources, and provide a consequence to the smuggler."
The parrots were found June 18 when a driver attempted to enter the United States through a vehicle lane at the Mariposa port of entry and was referred for secondary inspection.
When a CBP agriculture specialist was checking the contents of the vehicle, he located two live conures concealed in a box within another box. The birds were placed in a quarantine isolation crate, transferred to the bird holding facility, and turned over to USDA-Veterinary Services. The driver was issued a $300 civil penalty for the failed smuggling attempt.
Conure parrots are small to medium-sized birds that are native to areas throughout Central and South America. The orange-fronted conure is native to southwest Mexico, along the Pacific slopes down to Costa Rica. With a lifespan of between 20-25 years, it is considered to be an agricultural pest in some areas because it often feeds on grain.