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Customs agents find 70 finches hidden in hair rollers at JFK Airport

Published  December 12, 2018 2:44pm EST
U.S.
FOX 29 Philadelphia

JAMAICA, N.Y. (WTXF) - A flock of exotic birds landed at JFK Airport on Dec. 8, but their wings had nothing to do with how they got there.

During an inspection of an inbound flight from Georgetown, Guyana, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialists discovered a duffel bag containing 70 finches concealed in hair rollers.

The birds were placed under quarantine and turned over to the U.S. Department of Veterinary Services.

"Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialists are the first line of defense to prevent the introduction of animal diseases that have the potential to cause significant damage to the Nations agricultural economy," said Customs and Border Protection Director Troy Miller.

Most recently, the 2015 bird flew outbreak resulted in the culling of 50 million commercial turkeys and chickens and $850 million in damages.