Flapping sounds give away bird smuggler

Andre Yeo Channel NewsAsia 8 Apr 11;

SINGAPORE: A car stopped at the Woodlands Checkpoint on Thursday by Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers was found to have 240 Munia birds hidden under the passenger and driver seats.

ICA said in a statement on Friday that the Singapore-registered car was driven by a Singaporean man who looked nervous and avoided eye contact with ICA officers.

Checking the car, they heard flapping sounds from below the driver's seat and found the live birds, packed in plastic crates.

The 42-year-old man claimed he had bought the birds for religious purposes from a pet shop in Johor, Malaysia. The man, the birds and the vehicle, were referred to the Agri-food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) for further investigations.

The ICA and AVA would like to remind travellers against bringing live animals, birds and insects into Singapore without a proper permit.

The importation of any animals or live birds without an AVA permit is a violation of the Animals and Birds Act, which carries a maximum penalty of S$10,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.

-CNA/ac