A Tulare County man has been charged after he was allegedly caught trying to smuggle seven parrots into the U.S. across the Southern border near San Diego, prosecutors said.
Lidsay resident Juandaniel Medina, 24, made an appearance June 10 in federal court in San Diego, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. He was arrested on May 26.
“Federal agents detained Medina at the San Ysidro Port of Entry after discovering seven live Amazon parrots in a cardboard box on the passenger floorboard,” the DOJ said in a written statement.
Medina, who was the driver and registered owner of the vehicle in which the birds were found, “admitted paying $700 cash for the parrots with the intention of breeding and or reselling them in the United States in the future,” the statement added.
The birds, which can live up to 80 years in captivity, are often sold in the U.S. for up to $2,000.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials identified six of the birds as red-lored Amazon parrots, officials said.
All seven survived and were “thriving” at a U.S. Department of Agriculture quarantine facility, according to the statement.
If convicted as charged, Medina could face up to 20 years in federal prison.
He was released on bond pending legal proceedings, DOJ spokeswoman Kelly Thonton. Medina waived his right to a preliminary hearing, and an arraignment was scheduled for July 8.
Third bird bust in California in recent weeks
Medina was the third suspect accused of trying to smuggle exotic birds through San Ysidro Point of Entry in recent weeks, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said.
One such incident took place on May 4, when a 26-year-old man tried to drive into the U.S. in an SUV, the agency said at the time.
After being directed to a secondary inspection area, CBP agents noticed a blanket in the vehicle’s trunk, according to a CBP statement. “The blanket was moving.”
“Upon removing the blanket, officers discovered two cages. One cage contained 16 undeclared, live parakeets while the second cage contained three undeclared, live chickens. The driver and passengers were detained and escorted to a secure location for processing.”
Details were not available regarding the third bird-smuggling incident.
‘Not a victimless crime’
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California said the smuggling of exotic birds into the country “is not a victimless crime.”“The illicit parrot trade reflects a broader crisis in wildlife protection — where profit outweighs preservation,” he said. “These animals suffer, and the consequences to public health and the environment can be catastrophic. I thank U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their extraordinary coordination and vigilance in protecting both public safety and animal welfare.”
Illegally imported parrots do not go through required health screenings and quarantines, DOJ officials said. The measures are meant to prevent infectious diseases from entering the nation.
“Avian influenza (bird flu), for instance, can spread through feathers, droppings, or even airborne particles and has previously caused massive culls of farm birds in the U.S.,” the DOJ statement said. “Many other diseases that can be transmitted from different animals and can have disastrous effects, that is why it is necessary to quarantine animals entering the United States to limit and safeguard against this potential disease transmission.”
Brian Day is a Southern California native. He has covered crime, public safety and breaking news in the region for more than 15 years. He joined the Daily Press in 2024.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Border patrol accuses Tulare County man of smuggling parrots across Southern border
Reporting by Brian Day, Victorville Daily Press / Visalia Times-Delta
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
