A Guyanese man, who attempted to smuggle 20 live finches, popularly called “Towa Towas” into the United States of America was busted upon arrival at the JFK International Airport. The birds were found well secured in his carryon luggage.
According to information received, the man travelled from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on March 3 and during a search by the US Customs and Border Protection officers and agriculture specialists at the JFK airport, the birds were found.
US law enforcement officers found the birds in tube-shaped enclosures. The birds were seized and put into quarantine while the man was fined US$300 and refused entry into the US. He was put on the next plane back to Guyana.
Based on a report in the Dailymail.co.uk, Leon Hayward, Acting Director of CBP’s New York Field Operations reiterated that “CBP’s agriculture specialists protect our country every day from pests and diseases, the introduction of an animal or plant borne pest or disease could have a devastating impact on America’s agricultural industry”.
However, local authorities have launched an investigation as to how the birds passed security checkpoints at Guyana’s main port of entry.
This is not the first time birds have been smuggled into the US via the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. Some time back, several birds were intercepted upon arrival at the JFK Airport in hair curlers.
