Man Claims Suspicious Bulge Was Natural Anatomy Before Agents Discover Smuggled Birds
A 35-year-old U.S. citizen has been indicted on federal smuggling charges after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered two protected birds hidden in his underwear at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in San Diego. Jesse Agus Martinez was attempting to cross from Mexico into the United States when agents noticed a significant and “abnormal bulge” in his groin area. When questioned by officers regarding the protrusion, Martinez reportedly insisted it was just his natural male anatomy.
Upon referring him to secondary inspection, agents performed a physical search and discovered two small brown sacks concealed within his undergarments. Inside the sacks, officers found two heavily sedated orange-fronted parakeets. The juvenile birds, which are listed as a protected species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), were found unconscious but breathing. Veterinary staff at the border were able to revive the animals, and they were subsequently transferred to a Department of Agriculture Animal Import Center in New York, where officials report they are in stable condition.
Following the discovery, Martinez admitted to investigators that the birds were his and that he had concealed them because he lacked the proper documentation to bring them across the border legally. He claimed he intended to keep the birds as pets in a shoebox inside his vehicle. Martinez has since pleaded not guilty to the charge of importation contrary to law.
Federal prosecutors noted that this incident follows a previous encounter involving Martinez. Court documents indicate he was stopped a month prior while attempting to smuggle a different parrot across the border wrapped in a towel; that bird was found badly injured and had to be euthanized. If convicted on the current smuggling charges, Martinez faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. The case highlights ongoing challenges for authorities, with data showing that federal wildlife officials seized nearly 50,000 live animals at the border between 2015 and 2019.
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