Man caught smuggling rare parrots into USA
American federal authorities say a man is facing charges for trying to smuggle seven rare parrots into the United States from Canada as he walked across the border into Vermont.
Jafet Rodriguez, of Hazelton, Pennsylvania, was in federal court in Burlington on Thursday 13 February where he made an initial appearance to face charges of importing birds in violation of the Endangered Species Act. According to court records, five of the parrots seized from Rodriquez were Yellow-headed Amazons and two were White-bellied Parrots.
Jafet Rodriguezwas caught trying to carry seven parrots across the US-Canadian border (US Border Patrol).
Rodriquez was released on conditions after the hearing Thursday pending further court proceedings, including an arraignment where he would enter a plea to the charges against him. The incident leading to the charges took place late last year, with Rodriquez spotted at 10.30 am on 30 December 2019 by border patrol agents.
The court records stated that video surveillance showed him walking into Canada, opening a car door and retrieving a black bag from a vehicle parked on Church Street in Stanstead, Quebec. Rodriquez then walked into the United States with the bag without presenting himself for inspection and entering another vehicle, with people inside, according to court documents.
Authorities approached the vehicle and saw Rodriquez inside as well as the birds. Rodriquez initially denied carrying the birds across the border. Later, Rodriquez admitted to making arrangements with individuals in New York in order to purchase several birds from an individual in Canada.
He also told authorities that one of the seven birds belonged to him, and he took it with him because he didn't want to leave it at home, the filing stated. Due to this bird being commingled with the other smuggled birds and their unknown origin and lack of documentation, all seven birds were seized and quarantined.
People either exporting or importing wildlife into the United States must complete the proper paperwork, and a check completed in late January showed that Rodriquez had not done so. White-bellied Parrots are valued at between $1,000 and $2,000, with Yellow-headed Amazons valued at between $2,000 and $3,000. Both species are classified as Endangered.
