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3w ago

Man Charged with Smuggling Protected Parakeets at U.S.-Mexico Border

Naim Lajud Libien faces federal charges after attempting to illegally import 12 Orange Fronted Parakeets, resulting in multiple bird deaths and injuries.

The birds were Orange Fronted Parakeets, like the one seen here

Overview

  • Naim Lajud Libien, a 54-year-old Mexican citizen, was arrested at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry on April 29, 2025, after attempting to smuggle 12 protected parakeets into the United States.
  • Six parakeets were found concealed in Libien’s boots, while six more were discovered hidden within a seat cushion in his Jeep Grand Cherokee during a secondary inspection.
  • Two of the parakeets were found dead, one suffered a broken neck, and others were in poor health due to the inhumane conditions of their concealment.
  • The Orange Fronted Parakeets, protected under CITES Appendix II, require quarantine to prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases such as avian influenza and psittacosis.
  • Libien has been charged under 18 U.S.C. §545 for illegal importation, carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.