Naim Lajud Libien was apprehended and charged with attempting to smuggle a dozen protected Orange Fronted Parakeets into the United States. The parakeets were reportedly hidden both inside his boots and a seat compartment of his vehicle. Tragically, at least two of these birds died, while another appeared to have suffered a broken neck.
Lajud Libien, a Mexican national, was intercepted on April 29 at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. After presenting a Border Crossing Card, he was directed to a secondary inspection. A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer noticed unusual bulges around his ankles, prompting a pat-down, which led to the discovery of birds wrapped in nylon stockings inside the boots.
A CBP Agricultural Specialist, accompanied by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service inspector, removed six birds from Libien’s boots. According to the inspector, these were Orange Fronted Parakeets (Eupsittula canicularis). The birds were placed in a cage with food and water until Veterinary Services could provide care. Some birds bore signs of injury from being tied at the feet.
"Smuggling at the border takes many forms, but the tragic impact on animals forced into such perilous conditions is deeply troubling," stated U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. "We are committed to holding accountable those who endanger wildlife and public health through these reckless and inhumane smuggling practices."
Libien was detained on April 29, 2025. Subsequently, on April 30, CBP personnel heard birds from his impounded car. A team, including a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Inspector, began disassembling the vehicle and discovered six more parakeets bound and wrapped inside the passenger seat cushion. Two birds were dead, another had a broken neck, while three were alive but in poor condition.
The Orange Fronted Parakeet, native to Western Mexico and Costa Rica, is a protected species listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) since 2005. Libien's actions threatened to bypass quarantine regulations critical for mitigating the spread of zoonotic diseases such as Avian influenza, psittacosis, and histoplasmosis, which pose serious risks to humans and animals.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Allen and Elizabet Brown are prosecuting this case.
The defendant and summary of charges are as follows:
Naim Lajud Libien, age 54, Mexico.
Charges: Importation Contrary to Law – 18 U.S.C. § 545, Maximum penalty: Twenty years in custody, $250,000 fine.
Investigating agencies include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Office of Law Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations.
It is important to note that the charges and allegations are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.