A 54-year-old man was arrested this week on suspicion of smuggling 12 parakeets inside his boots and vehicle seat compartments while crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, officials said.

A man who allegedly tried to smuggle a dozen parakeets over the border – stuffed inside his boots and the seat of his car – now faces federal charges. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office ...

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the 12 orange-fronted parakeets were seized at the Otay Port of Entry in California following an alleged smuggling attempt.