When His Pants Looked Suspiciously Bulky, He Claimed 'It's My Genitals'... Endangered Species Smuggling Exposed

[Financial News] A man attempting to smuggle endangered parrots across the U.S. border by hiding them in his underwear was caught by authorities.
On the 17th (local time), several local media outlets, including the New York Post, reported that the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California indicted U.S. citizen Jesse Agus Martinez on federal smuggling charges. Martinez was reportedly arrested on February 23 while attempting to cross the border at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.
At the time, Martinez was trying to leave the country with two endangered juvenile Orange-fronted Conures hidden in his underwear. However, a United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer noticed that Martinez's groin area appeared unusually swollen, found it suspicious, and stopped him for further inspection.
Martinez repeatedly insisted that the bulge in his pants was his genitals, but a thorough search revealed two parrots in a brown pouch inside his underwear, exposing his lie. The parrots were reportedly unconscious, having been sedated.
Agents and inspectors from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) who arrived at the scene confirmed that the birds were Orange-fronted Conures, an endangered species. The Orange-fronted Conure is native to western Mexico and Costa Rica and has been classified as endangered since 2005.
During the investigation, Martinez claimed he received the birds from his uncle in Mexico and hid them in his underwear because he lacked the necessary paperwork for import into the United States. However, authorities found that Martinez had previously been caught in September of this year attempting to smuggle a parrot by wrapping it in a towel and hiding it under his arm.

A federal grand jury indicted Martinez on illegal importation charges on the 15th. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Meanwhile, the parrots were treated by the border veterinary services team and then transferred to the USDA Animal Import Center for quarantine and disease screening.
[email protected] Kim Hee-sun Reporter