By North County Times wire services
SAN DIEGO - Federal agents on Monday will
turn over to Mexican authorities more than
150 wild parrots seized from smugglers at
the U.S./Mexico border, a U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service agent said Saturday.
The Lilac Crowned and Mexican Redhead Amazon
parrots were seized from two men, one of whom
had been under surveillance for some time,
USFWS Special Agent John Brooks said.
When the alleged smuggler was spotted crossing
the border, an alert was issued, Brooks said.
The suspect was arrested when he returned
to the United States with more than 100 parrots,
Brooks said.
"We got lucky, we followed him, we caught
him," Brooks told City News Service.
A second alleged smuggler was caught during
a routine check at the border, Brooks said.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
agents also were involved in the investigation,
ICE spokesperson Lauren Mack said.
The wild and colorful parrots are about seven
inches tall and weigh a couple of ounces,
Brooks said. They have a wholesale value of
$200-$500.
The birds will be released to Mexican wildlife
officials at the USDA Veterinary Services
Quarantine Facility in Otay Mesa on Monday.
The parrots later are to be released in the
wild in the Mexican state of Chiapas.
