Another individual has been apprehended at the San Ysidro Port of Entry for smuggling exotic birds into the United States. Juandaniel Medina, a 24-year-old from Lindsay, CA, was charged with illegally importing seven live Amazon parrots, which Federal agents found in a cardboard box inside his vehicle. At his court appearance, officials noted that Medina confessed to purchasing the parrots for $700 to breed or resell them, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Following the seizure, six birds were identified as Red-Lored Amazon Parrots. All seven are currently in a robust state, thriving at a quarantine facility under the care of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Despite the recent crackdown on the illicit trade, this case marks a continuation of the spell of illegal wildlife trafficking that has been disturbing Southern California recently.
In his comments, U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon emphasized the serious ramifications of bird smuggling: "The illicit parrot trade reflects a broader crisis in wildlife protection—where profit outweighs preservation," he stated, per the U.S. Attorney's Office. Gordon continued, adding, "Bird smuggling is not a victimless crime. These animals suffer, and the consequences to public health and the environment can be catastrophic."
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicates that Amazon parrots, which span approximately thirty species, hail from regions including Mexico, the West Indies, and northern South America, and are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna ("CITES"). Sneaking these birds into the country not only bypasses critical health screening and quarantine but also poses significant risks. Birds like these could carry infectious diseases such as avian influenza, which can devastate poultry farms and even impact human health.
Medina is facing charges of Importation Contrary to Law, carrying a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, on Case Number 25-mj-3169.
