SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A Tijuana man is facing federal charges after border officials say he attempted to smuggle two protected orange-fronted parakeets into the United States—hidden in his underwear.
According to a newly unsealed federal indictment, Jesse Agus Martinez, a U.S. citizen living in Tijuana, tried to cross the border at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry on Oct. 23, 2025. At around 12:50 p.m., Customs and Border Protection officers directed him to secondary inspection after noticing a suspicious bulge in his groin area.
During a further search, officers discovered two small brown sacks concealed in his underwear—each containing a heavily sedated orange-fronted parakeet. The birds were reportedly unconscious but breathing.
One of the captive birds in a sack as it was removed from the suspect’s underwear. (Courtesy of United States Attorney’s Office Southern District of California) 
The parakeets shortly after being confiscated, showing signs of heavy sedation. (Courtesy of United States Attorney’s Office Southern District of California)
CBP records indicated Martinez had previously tried to smuggle birds into the country, prompting officers to call in specialists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Wildlife inspectors identified the animals as juvenile orange-fronted parakeets (Eupsittula canicularis), a protected species listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species since 2005.
The parakeets received initial veterinary care at the border before being transferred to a Department of Agriculture Animal Import Center for quarantine. Officials now say the birds are in stable condition.
Native to western Mexico and Costa Rica, orange-fronted parakeets cannot be brought into the U.S. without proper permits and quarantine. Federal officials emphasize that wildlife smuggling poses significant public health risks.
Birds, in particular, can carry dangerous zoonotic diseases such as avian influenza (bird flu), psittacosis, and histoplasmosis, all of which can spread to humans or devastate poultry populations.
Authorities say Martinez’s attempt to bypass quarantine procedures could have exposed people and animals to serious health threats.
Martinez is now facing federal charges related to wildlife smuggling and illegal importation. If convicted, he could face fines and potential prison time.