On 4 October 2026, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection arrested a man who was smuggling 10 live birds in his underwear. The traveller was searched as officers noted an ‘unexplained bulge’ in his pelvic area.
Alberto Hernandez Castillo, a Cuba-born permanent legal resident of the U.S., touched down at Miami International Airport (MIA) on Sunday 4 October after a World Atlantic Flight 503 from Havana. Upon arrival, the traveller was selected for secondary inspection as per a Homeland Security Investigations criminal report.
When Castillo was given a Customs Entry Declaration form to fill out, he mentioned he was travelling with one carry-on bag and one fanny pack. He also declared that he was not bringing any animals or wildlife into the country before signing the document.
🤔"Unexplained" Bulge? Finds🐦10 Birds Stuffed Down PANTS of Flyer✈️ From Cuba ⚖️United States vs Alberto Hernandez Castillo⚖️ a Cuban national and lawful permanent U.S. resident, has been arrested and now facing federal charges for smuggling goods into the United States. Officers quickly spotted an "unexplained bulge" around his front pelvis and waist area. Castillo had six transparent tubes stitched into his underwear, secured with tape and covered with black mesh for airflow. Inside were eight yellow-faced grassquits and two blue grosbeaks, both sought after in the illegal bird trade. 🐦🚫
— American Crime Stories (@AmericanCrime01) October 7, 2026
However, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers who were present at the time, the man seemed nervous. Moreover, there was an ‘unexplained bulge’ in his pelvic area, leading the officers to escort him to a private area for a pat-down.
During the search, it became clear that Castillo was indeed hiding something in his underwear. As per the report, he had sewn six plastic tubes, all wrapped in tape, into black pockets in his underpants. The openings of the bottles were covered with black mesh, allowing for some airflow.
Inside the bottles, they discovered no less than 10 live birds. Eight of the animals turned out to be yellow-faced grassquits, while two were blue grosbeaks.
According to Birds of the World, “the yellow-faced grassquit is a small greyish-green finch that occurs from southeastern Mexico south to northern South America, and throughout the Greater Antilles. It is a common species that occurs in open grassy fields, pastures, roadsides, and clearings. Grassquits often travel in loose flocks, sometimes associating with other species, and primarily forage on grass seeds.”
The blue grosbeak, on the other hand, is described as “a large bunting of the southern forest edge, often seen singing from roadside wires and tree tops. Although widespread throughout its breeding range, it is generally scarce and virtually all aspects of its biology are poorly known, perhaps owing in part to its low numbers. Little is known about populations that breed in Mexico and Central America, and even less about northern populations on their wintering grounds.” The North American songbird is also protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, making its transportation illegal without a permit.
Upon discovery, Castillo stated that all 10 birds were meant for personal use. Afterwards, he invoked his right to remain silent. He was then charged with smuggling wildlife by federal investigators because he failed to submit the required declaration forms and did not secure the required clearance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Following the charge, Castillo appeared at the Miami federal court, according to magazine PEOPLE, where he was released on a $25,000 personal surety bond. His arraignment has been set for 26 October 2026.
