Man returning from China fined for not declaring pet birds in his luggage

[tokugawa]

A suitcase full of songbirds has netted a $7,500 fine for a Vancouver man.

Kwok Sing Lee pleaded guilty Thursday to failing to present the birds for inspection and not having the required permits during a hearing in Richmond Provincial Court.

According to a Canadian Border Services press release, Lee was returning to Canada from China on April 13 when Lady, a CBSA detector dog, indicated his carry-on bag. Officers opened the bag to find wooden boxes containing 29 songbirds, including eight which had died during the trip.

Lee told officers he had purchased the birds in China, confirming they had not been inspected before he put them into his carry-on bag and boarded the plane.

He was carrying several red-billed leiothrix, melodious laughing thrush and Oriental magpie robins.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency does not allow importation of pet birds from China because it is a country where avian influenza is “endemic.”

Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/news/ret...irds+luggage/7039174/story.html#ixzz22X2rAHOE

You got to be kidding me

 

[storm rider]

You got to be kidding me

Acutally you would be surprised at the amount of illegal bird/reptile smuggling that happens throughout
the world.I imagine those exotic songbirds are worth a substantial amount of money.

SR

 

[mercyshooter]

and avian flu, not to mention! :frusty: animals can have flus too that can contage humans and mutate to a super bug.

 

[the old maxx50]

Why doe the story say
Pet birds " The Guy was smuggling birds . and that is not all he was doing . ne was all so put us all at risk .

Every one is all be so nice and polite , F*** !!!!!!