Birds in his briefs? Man accused of attempting to smuggle 10 birds through Miami Airport

MIAMI, Fla. (CBS12) — A man accused of smuggling 10 live birds through Miami International Airport had a creative hiding spot for his feathered passengers: his underwear.

According to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Alberto Hernandez Castillo, a legal permanent resident of the U.S., arrived from Cuba on Sunday and was sent for a secondary inspection after customs officers noticed an “unexplained bulge” near his waist.

A pat-down allegedly revealed six plastic containers tucked into sewn pockets inside his underwear.

See also: Quick-thinking victim, Delray Beach police foil $10K fake FDIC scam

Inside were 10 live birds.

Authorities say eight were yellow-faced grassquits and two were blue grosbeaks. The birds are both protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and were allegedly brought into the country without the required documentation.

When questioned, Hernandez Castillo allegedly brought the birds into the country without the required documentation.

The unusual airport discovery landed Hernandez Castillo in federal court. He is charged with smuggling goods into the United States and was released on a $25,000 bond.