Customs frustrates attempts to smuggle nearly 2,000 cigars and live birds from Havana airport to the U.S.

The Cuban Customs thwarted two attempts of illegal trafficking this week at the José Martí International Airport in Havana, by detecting and confiscating 1,948 cigars distributed among four pieces of luggage and seven live birds hidden in deodorant tubes attached to a passenger's body, both cases destined for the United States.

The events were reported last Thursday by Wiliam Pérez González, the first deputy chief of the General Customs of the Republic (AGR), via his account on the social network X.

According to the official report, agents discovered a stash of cigars hidden in the luggage of four individuals attempting to smuggle them out of the country to the U.S. without declaring them. A complaint was filed with the police, Pérez indicated.

In the second case, a passenger was carrying the birds attached to their body, hidden in deodorant tubes, in order to smuggle them illegally. Regarding this incident, the AGR official stated that "the protection of natural heritage is a priority in border security."

This mode of trafficking had been detected before: in February of this year, another traveler was caught at the Havana airport with 28 birds hidden in the same manner.

The illegal smuggling of tobacco is not an isolated incident. In the past two months, the Cuban customs have reported several similar operations: the detection of over 370 boxes of counterfeit tobacco and the confiscation of more than 3,800 cigars headed for Panama, in addition to over 4,000 hidden stamps from Cuban brands in luggage.

Customs authorities have indicated that such actions harm the image and reputation of Cuban brands abroad, in addition to constituting legal infractions that could lead to reports to the police.

The AGR of Cuba has warned that it will continue to intensify controls at airports to curb any type of trafficking and illegal activities across the country's borders. In addition to the smuggling of tobacco and animals, authorities have reported six drug trafficking operations so far this year at Havana airport, highlighting the ongoing attempts to introduce or remove illegal substances through this air terminal.