Pet Forum / Birds / Birds / July 2008

A Los Angeles man who tried to smuggle 44 parrots through the Otay Mesa
Port of Entry was sentenced in San Diego Monday to 10 months in federal
prison.

     Candido Palacios pleaded guilty April 7 to smuggling and unlawful
importation of wildlife.

     According to court records, Palacios and his wife, Araceli Urias-
Palacios, and their minor child were in a vehicle when they tried to enter
the United States at Otay Mesa.

     Although Palacios and his wife claimed to have nothing to declare,
inspectors heard birds screeching and during a subsequent search found 40
conure parrots in a bag, and four yellow-headed Amazon parrots in the
vehicle's center console.

     Palacios admitted that he tried to smuggle the birds into the United
States in order to avoid quarantine requirements and intended to take them
to Los Angeles to sell.

     At the time, the wholesale value of the birds was about $7,200.

     U.S. District Judge Thomas Whelan also ordered Urias-Palacios to serve
two years probation