SD man charged in alleged attempt to smuggle 17 exotic birds at San Ysidro border crossing

One cage contained undeclared parakeets and parrots Photo courtesy of U S Customs and Confines Protection A San Diego man who allegedly tried to smuggle exotic birds across the U S -Mexico demarcation was facing federal charges Tuesday Ricardo Alonzo is accused of attempting to cross through the San Ysidro Port of Entry on May with Burrowing Parakeets five Yellow-Crowned Amazon Parrots and two Red-Lored Amazon Parrots in four bags underneath one of his bicycle s seats The two Red-Lored Amazon Parrot chicks died but the other surviving birds were transported to a U S Department of Agriculture-managed quarantine facility according to the U S Attorney s Office Alonzo allegedly communicated CBP officers that he only had two chickens to declare according to a announcement of facts included in his criminal complaint The comment indicates Alonzo did not have documentation permitting the birds importation nor was it likely that the birds were in the conveyance unbeknownst to him because they weren t under sedation and were making noises while Alonzo was at secondary inspection The alleged smuggling attempt is the second up-to-date occurrence reported by federal prosecutors of suspected bird smuggling through a San Diego port of entry Last month the U S Attorney s Office in San Diego disclosed charges against a Mexican citizen who allegedly attempted to cross the boundary with a dozen parakeets stuffed inside his boots and inside the seat of his car Prosecutors disclosed each of the birds were tied at their feet and wrapped in panty hose during the alleged smuggling episode According to the U S Attorney s Office among the protected Orange Fronted Parakeets ascertained during the April alleged smuggling attempt through the Otay Mesa Port of Entry at least two of the birds died a third suffered a accomplishable broken neck and others appeared in poor soundness Both men are facing charges of importation contrary to law