Miami airport passenger had ‘unexplained bulge’; 10 live birds found in underwear

A Miami International Airport passenger returning from Cuba was arrested after US Customs and Border Protection officers found 10 live birds concealed in plastic tubes sewn into his underwear. Alberto Hernandez Castillo, 40, a Cuban national and permanent resident of the US, arrived from Havana on October 4 aboard World Atlantic Flight 503 and was selected for a secondary inspection. According to a federal criminal complaint, Castillo declared that he was not bringing animals or wildlife into the US. Officers searching his luggage found no contraband, but then noticed an “unexplained bulge” around his waist and pelvic area. A subsequent pat-down allegedly uncovered six concealed tubes containing the birds.‘Unexplained bulge’ raises suspicion at Miami airportDuring the secondary inspection, Castillo reportedly told officers that he had travelled to Cuba to visit family and was carrying a carry-on bag and a fanny pack. He signed a Customs Entry Declaration in which he answered “No” when asked whether he was bringing animals or wildlife into the country, according to the complaint.Officers searched his belongings but found nothing unusual. During further questioning, however, they not...