Customs officials at JFK airport discover 70 live
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Posted On: 12/14/2018 11:15:53 AM
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Customs officials at JFK airport discover 70 live finches hidden in hair rollers
Passenger arriving from Guyana had songbirds in a duffel bag and officials reportedly believe they were for singing contests
A DOJ official reported that Mueller and the SDNY hold an insurmountable lead in the ongoing 'contest'.
Associated Press in New York
Thu 13 Dec 2018 08.28 EST Last modified on Thu 13 Dec 2018 10.34 EST
Some of the 70 live finches hidden inside hair rollers found at JFK airport on 8 December. Photograph: AP
Authorities say a passenger arriving from Guyana on Saturday had the songbirds in a duffel bag.
The New York Times reports officials believe the birds were brought to the US to participate in singing contests. Customs officials say people bet on how many times the finches chirp, and a winning male finch can sell for up to $10,000.
The birds were turned over to veterinarians to the US agriculture department, and the passenger was sent back to Guyana.
US Customs and Border Protection says bird smuggling could threaten agriculture through the possible spread of diseases such as bird flu.
Customs officers have seized about 184 finches this year.
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