Now, Medina is charged with illegally trafficking the parrots, which are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna, the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office said in a June 10 news release.<\/p>\n
Attorney information for Medina, who appeared in court on June 10, wasn\u2019t immediately available the morning of June 11.<\/p>\n
Medina is the third person \u201ccharged with illegal trafficking of protected exotic birds through Ports of Entry in the Southern District of California\u201d in the last few weeks, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n
He was found smuggling the parrots on May 26, according to charging documents. A CBP officer discovered the birds after spotting multiple holes poked into the SKYY Vodka box in which Medina hid them, charging documents say.<\/p>\n
Medina told officials that he bought the parrots for $700 in cash, according to prosecutors.<\/p>\n
\u201cFortunately, all seven of the parrots are alive and thriving at a quarantine facility managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture,\u201d prosecutors said.<\/p>\n
Medina\u2019s arrest is a part of a larger, \u201ctroubling pattern\u201d of wildlife being trafficked into the U.S. through Southern California, according to the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n
Amazon parrots inhabit Mexico, the West Indies and South America, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n
About thirty different species of Amazon parrots are all protected by Appendix I or Appendix II of CITES, according to prosecutors.<\/p>\n
Bringing birds into the U.S. illegally prevents officials from examining and quarantining them, creating potential public health risks, as birds smuggled into the country can carry Avian influenza, also known as bird flu, the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office said.<\/p>\n
U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said in a statement that \u201cBird smuggling is not a victimless crime.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThese animals suffer, and the consequences to public health and the environment can be catastrophic,\u201d Gordon added.<\/p>\n