U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Paso Del Norte international crossing in downtown El Paso seized five live parrots March 30. The birds were hidden in a shoe box.

The seizure was made when a vehicle with two passengers arrived at the PDN crossing from Mexico. The occupants declared several medications to CBP officers. The vehicle was referred for further inspection during which CBP officers located a closed shoe box in the rear seat. They opened the box and found that it contained the birds. The parrots were seized and turned over to USDA veterinary services for processing.

“CBP officers working at locations across the southwest border do encounter smuggled birds, reptiles, and other wildlife while they are performing their primary homeland security mission,” said CBP El Paso Director of Field Operation Hector Mancha. “Unfortunately there is a market for these animals but rest assured that the attention to detail exhibited by members of the CBP team will routinely identify these smugglers.”

The seizure is the second time in recent weeks where CBP officers in the El Paso area have encountered live birds. On March 8 CBP officers working at the Columbus port of entry in southern New Mexico encountered a man attempting to smuggle two parrots from Mexico to the U.S. The birds in that case were also concealed in a shoe box.