Man tried to smuggle pigeons in trousers
Customs officers in Australia have caught a man who was trying to smuggle two pigeons into the country ... in his trousers.
The 23-year-old man - who had just got off a 10 hour flight from Dubai to Sydney - was initially quizzed when officers found he was carrying a container of eggs.
But when they took him to a private interview room they noticed he was walking funny and on examination they found he was wearing tights with a live pigeon concealed in each leg.
He even had a bag of seeds in a money belt around his waist. While it was first thought the birds had nested, closer examination showed he just had remarkably hairy legs.
Customs and Border Protection National Manager Investigations, Richard Janeczko, said Australia has some of the strongest wildlife protection laws in the world.
"The import and export of wildlife is strictly controlled and policed by Customs and Border Protection at the border," Mr Janeczko said.
"Wildlife smuggling is not only cruel to the animals involved, it poses a severe risk to the Australian environment and the health of the Australian community.
"It is important that people declare all animal and plant materials to Customs and Border Protection when they enter Australia," Mr Janeczko said.
The pigeons, eggs and seeds were referred to the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service.
The man now faces a maximum penalty for wildlife smuggling offenses of 10 years imprisonment and/or a $110,000 fine.
Picture courtesy Australian Customs.
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