A man crossing the US-Mexico border is facing years in prison after authorities allegedly discovered two heavily sedated parakeets hidden inside his underwear.
According to federal prosecutors, 35-year-old Jesse Agus Martinez was stopped at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in California after Customs and Border Protection officers noticed a suspicious bulge in his pants. When questioned about it, Martinez reportedly insisted the bulge was simply his anatomy.
But investigators say the explanation quickly fell apart during a secondary inspection.
Border agents allegedly discovered two brown sacks hidden inside Martinez’s underwear, each containing a live orange-fronted parakeet. Prosecutors said the birds were heavily sedated and barely conscious when they were found.
The bizarre smuggling attempt reportedly took place on October 23, 2025, as Martinez attempted to cross into the United States from Tijuana, Mexico. Authorities said the birds were juvenile orange-fronted parakeets, a protected species native to parts of Mexico and Central America.
Federal officials claim Martinez repeatedly told officers the bulge in his pants was his “pirrin,” a slang Spanish term referring to male anatomy. Agents were not convinced and carried out a physical inspection, which led to the birds being discovered.
Wildlife officials later confirmed the parakeets were alive but heavily drugged. The birds were transferred to veterinary specialists before being moved to a Department of Agriculture quarantine facility. Authorities say both birds are now in stable condition.
Martinez has since been indicted on federal smuggling charges. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison and fines reaching $250,000.
The US Attorney’s Office also claimed customs records suggested Martinez may have previously smuggled birds across the border. Wildlife trafficking experts say orange-fronted parakeets are frequently targeted by illegal exotic pet traders due to their bright colours and popularity in the black market pet trade.
The strange case quickly went viral online after details of the smuggling attempt emerged, with many people stunned that live birds had allegedly been concealed inside someone’s pants during an international border crossing.
