Authorities thwart attempt to smuggle a concealed bird in a container of medications and eggs from Havana to the U.S.

The authorities of the General Customs of the Republic recently thwarted an attempt to illegally export a bird and several eggs hidden in luggage bound for the United States from José Martí International Airport in Havana.

Wiliam Pérez González, first deputy chief of the General Customs of the Republic, announced through a post on social media platform X that the bird was hidden inside a container of medications, in violation of the international CITES convention and national regulations.

According to the official, "strict measures" were implemented after the violation was detected, although he did not provide further details about the type of bird or the passenger involved.

The shared images show that the bird was placed inside a perforated jar to allow it to breathe, while at least five eggs were concealed, although the exact number of specimens was not specified.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) strictly regulates the movement of protected species between countries, and Cuba is one of the signatory states.

For years, Cuba has been the stage for multiple attempts at smuggling wild birds, with documented cases reflecting the persistence of this illegal practice.

In 2019, for instance, Cuban authorities seized at José Martí International Airport a suitcase containing 277 live birds, including tocororos, cardenales, and tomeguines, which were being taken out of the country without authorization. These species, many of which are endemic, are part of Cuba's natural heritage.

Two years later, the Spanish Civil Guard intercepted 161 wild birds at Manises Airport in Valencia, transported by a passenger arriving from Havana.

The birds, hidden in suitcases and without legal documentation, evidenced the successful passage through Cuban and Spanish customs controls, raising concerns over the failures in detecting this type of trafficking.

More recently, last April, an operation by the forest rangers in the municipality of Guamá, Santiago de Cuba, allowed for the release of several wild birds that were kept in captivity for sale in the informal market.

Although the species and the number of animals were not specified, this fact demonstrated that the internal trafficking of wildlife continues to be fueled by demand and the lack of economic options for many people.