By SouthFloridaReporter.com, July 12, 2015 – MIAMI – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) agriculture specialists working at Miami International Airport discovered two live pigeons wrapped in brown and blue tape and one finch inside a small plastic bottle on July 2
Agriculture specialists discovered the pigeons and finch while inspecting a passenger’s laptop bag arriving from Cuba.
The birds were seized for violation of the Lacey Act, a conservation law prohibiting trade in wildlife that has been illegally taken, possessed, transported, or sold.
This incident also represents a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty, which makes it unlawful without a waiver to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill or sell birds listed as “migratory birds”. The statute does not distinguish between live or dead birds and also grants full protection to any bird parts including feathers, eggs, and nests. Over 800 species are currently on the list.
The consequences of a foreign animal disease (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, Exotic Newcastle Disease) outbreak occurring in the United States would be devastating. An outbreak would affect the health and lives of animals, the quantity and quality of our nation’s food supply, and the stability of our nation’s international trade.
“CBP agriculture specialists are the front line in the fight against the introduction of harmful insects and diseases into the United States,” said Miami International Airport Port Director Christopher Maston. “They safeguard American agriculture and our natural resources by stopping plant pests and exotic foreign animal diseases at our nation’s borders.”
Disclaimer
The information contained in South Florida Reporter is for general information purposes only.
The South Florida Reporter assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the contents of the Service.
In no event shall the South Florida Reporter be liable for any special, direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tort, arising out of or in connection with the use of the Service or the contents of the Service. The Company reserves the right to make additions, deletions, or modifications to the contents of the Service at any time without prior notice.
The Company does not warrant that the Service is free of viruses or other harmful components
