Sydney: An Australian traveller who flew from Dubai to Melbourne was caught on arrival with two live pigeons stuffed in his pants, customs officials said on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old man was searched after authorities discovered two eggs in a vitamin container in his luggage, said Richard Janeczko, national investigations manager for the Customs Service.
They found the pigeons wrapped in padded envelopes and held to each of the man's legs with a pair of tights, according to a statement released by the agency. Officials also seized seeds in his money belt and an undeclared eggplant.
The alleged bird smuggler, who arrived in Melbourne from Dubai on Sunday, was being questioned.
Charges of wildlife smuggling — which carry a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of 110,000 Australian dollars ($70,430) — could be brought against the man.
Janeczko said the pigeons were not endangered and that the case — as well as the birds, eggs and seeds — had been turned over to the Quarantine Service to assess the health risk associated with bringing the birds into the country.
Your comments
Better Luck Next time. ;)
Kami
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 03, 2009, 18:03
First of all whoever he is, he is really a very innocent guy. He could have travelled with these common pigeons even with legal permissions to his country. However by doing this foolish act, he straight away declares that he is a Mr. Bean kind of a personality in our real world. I think he should not be charged with heavy fine or imprisonment.
Alam
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 03, 2009, 17:42
This is the funniest thing I've read in a long time. Smuggle Pigeons.
Zeeshan
Lahore,Pakistan
Posted: February 03, 2009, 17:39
This is a funny thing for me. I think there are so many pegions around and I doubt if they are not existing in Australia as well. Maybe he has attachment to the birds, and for the seeds maybe he just loved gardening which he cannot find the seed in Australia.
Ednamira
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 03, 2009, 17:33
Living things like plants/animals/birds are required for the survival of certain viruses and other microorganisms.Probably he was trying to smuggle any such exotic('pathgenic')microbe.
Biju
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: February 03, 2009, 17:28
Joke of the Day. Well it is a crazy world, some thing to make me and my family smile.
Shakeel
Riyadh,Saudi Arabia
Posted: February 03, 2009, 17:23
It us funny and sad at the same time. He is not foolish, he may have his reasons but only the authorities would know.
Alif
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 03, 2009, 17:02
May be he has a child's mind.
Poppy
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 03, 2009, 16:59
Awesome,let the poor guy go, after all its only birds, "Quite ingenious" though
Huda
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: February 03, 2009, 16:51
Interesting news. May be this man's motivation is to bring peace from Dubai to Australia.
Bobby Mathew
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 03, 2009, 15:44
His mental health should be checked.
Navin
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 03, 2009, 15:44
Pigeons are very smart in the location and maybe he's using them for smuggling.
Gerry
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 03, 2009, 15:33
Wow, its good that pigeons are alive.
I dont understand why he did this , are pigeons not available there in Australia??
This is really a surprise for me, unable to understand this at all.
Naeem
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 03, 2009, 15:16
If that guy would come to Sharjah and put some seeds he can have millions of pigeons for free. Why would he want to wrap it and do...STRANGE and AMAZED ???
Kir
Ajman,UAE
Posted: February 03, 2009, 15:01
Poor Birds! I guess they were some exotic kind of pigeon. There are different kinds here in Dubai than we have in Australia. Glad they caught him.
From A Reader
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 03, 2009, 14:59
2 pigeons tucked inside the pants, absolutely absurd!
Nila
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: February 03, 2009, 14:58
I really don't understand the motive behind such a foolish act! Why to smuggle pigeons??
Murtuza
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: February 03, 2009, 14:53
Why was he doing that? To sell or to keep them?
Rohail Amin
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 03, 2009, 14:21
What does a 23-year-old want from two pigeons?? And don't these pigeons make sounds? Yet he was discovered in Sydney.
Tumi
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: February 03, 2009, 12:12
