US EditionHe Was Caught Smuggling over Mexico-US Border, Police Say: His Cargo Was Bound, Sedated and Duct-Taped Under Dashboard
SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, JUL 10 – Carlos Abundez faces charges after authorities found 14 sedated, injured Keel-billed toucans hidden in his car dashboard at a San Diego border crossing, part of a growing smuggling pattern.
- On June 25, Carlos Abundez, 35, was arrested at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry for smuggling 14 live Keel-billed toucans hidden inside his Volkswagen Passat dashboard.
- The arrest followed a Customs and Border Protection canine alerting officers during a screening that led to the discovery of toucans sedated, bound, and duct-taped beneath the car's dashboard.
- Officials identified the birds as young Keel-billed toucans native to the region spanning southern Mexico to Ecuador, noting that these animals are safeguarded by international agreements regulating the trade of threatened species, and highlighted the ongoing issue of exotic wildlife smuggling in Southern California.
- Several toucans suffered broken tails and one had a broken leg, but they were promptly sent to the Animal Import Center managed by the Department of Agriculture for treatment and isolation. All of the birds are expected to recover from their injuries.
- Federal prosecutors in San Diego have charged Abundez for illegally attempting to import protected exotic birds, marking the fourth recent case involving the trafficking of such birds through local border crossings, which raises significant public health concerns.
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He was caught smuggling over Mexico-US border, police say: His cargo was bound, sedated and duct-taped under dashboard
A California man was charged Wednesday in San Diego federal court with attempting to smuggle 14 exotic toucans across the U.S.-Mexico border after the protected birds were found bound and hidden in his car’s dashboard.
·Portland, United States
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San Diego Union Tribune+4 Reposted by 4 other sources
Man charged with smuggling bound, sedated toucans across U.S.-Mexico border
A San Ysidro man was charged Wednesday in San Diego federal court with attempting to smuggle 14 exotic toucans across the U.S.-Mexico border after the protected birds were found bound and hidden in his car’s dashboard. The driver, 35, was charged with smuggling merchandise and importation contrary to law, according to federal prosecutors. The arrest occurred June 25 at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry after a Customs and Border Protection dog alerted…
·San Diego, United States
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Leaning Left3Leaning Right0Center9Last UpdatedBias Distribution75% Center
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