A Connecticut man tried to smuggle 34 finches into the US from Guyana. He got caught at JFK. The poor songbirds were hidden in colorful, plastic hair rollers.
Apparently the birds have a beautiful warble, and compete admirably in singing contests. The man hoped to sell each one for around $3,000.
The finches were discovered after the man was selected by Customs and Border Patrol officials for a random search. This is at least the third time hair-roller-finch-smuggling has been intercepted. December 8, 2018 officers discovered 70 finches, and March 3, 2018 a man was found with 20 in his carry-on.
