Customs officers were left stunned when a routine inspection at the border took an unexpected turn. When they questioned 35-year-old Jesse Agus Martinez about a strange bulge in his pants, he insisted it was natural, even using a slang term to refer to his private parts. But officers quickly realized something wasn’t right.
A closer look revealed two young orange-fronted parakeets, heavily sedated and stuffed into small brown bags tucked inside his underwear. Martinez, a U.S. citizen living in Tijuana, was trying to smuggle the protected birds into the United States without following required quarantine and inspection procedures.
The birds were found alive but sluggish, and border veterinarians immediately treated them. They were later placed under official quarantine and are expected to recover fully.
Authorities say this wasn’t Martinez’s first attempt to sneak birds across the border. Records indicate he may have been involved in smuggling birds before. He now faces serious federal charges that could bring up to 20 years in prison and significant fines.
Orange-fronted parakeets are considered a vulnerable species, facing threats from intense trapping and illegal wildlife trade. Hundreds of thousands have been trafficked over the years, placing the species under increased pressure.
This case is one of several recent incidents. In April, another man was caught trying to smuggle 12 of the same birds inside his boots, with several not surviving the ordeal. Officials say these cases highlight the cruelty and dangers of wildlife smuggling — both for the animals and the people involved.