Man caught trying to smuggle 18 live birds in his trousers at airport

Customs officials at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, were surprised to discover what one passenger was hiding in his trousers on Tuesday.



The man was caught allegedly trying to illegally smuggle live birds, including endangered species, to Taiwan by strapping them to his legs inside his trousers and attempting to board an aircraft.

A total of 18 live birds were found in the man’s possession, including 11 varieties listed as endangered species. They included singing birds such as the white-rumped shama, oriental shama and melodious laughing thrush.



Photographs show the man pulling up his trousers to reveal the live birds partially hidden in pouches and strapped to his legs. The man, who was not named, and said to be a Vietnamese national, is now being investigated by authorities.