Five parrots found in shoebox during smuggling attempt at Texas border, officials say

Five live parrots hidden inside a shoebox were intercepted by border officials in downtown El Paso, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a news release.

Officials found the parrots March 30 while inspecting a vehicle that arrived at the Paso Del Norte crossing from Mexico. The two passengers said they had several medications with them, and officers decided to inspect the vehicle more, the release said.

During the inspection, CBP officers found a shoebox in the car’s rear seat. They opened the box to find the birds, the release said.

The parrots were turned over to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s veterinary services for processing. The seizure is the second one in recent weeks where officers have discovered live birds inside a shoebox, the release said.

This story was originally published April 4, 2022 at 6:47 PM with the headline "Five parrots found in shoebox during smuggling attempt at Texas border, officials say."