by Donald Wood
Last updated: 3:15 PM ET, Fri April 15, 2016
In one of the wildest smuggling cases you'll ever hear, a man in Vietnam was discovered trying to transport 18 live birds in his pants and luggage.
According to Thanh Nien News, the Vietnamese man is being investigated by customs officials after he was stopped at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, for illegally attempting to smuggle live birds into Taiwan.
The man was stopped while trying to board a flight, and officials found several birds in his luggage and even more strapped to his legs. The alleged smuggler attempted to bring 18 live birds into Taiwan, including 11 varieties listed as endangered species.
Among the birds being smuggled, the types included white-rumped shama, oriental shama and melodious laughing thrush.
The Daily Mail on Twitter shared images of the alleged smuggler and his birds:
Local media outlets are reporting that exporting protected species is strictly banned, and authorities believe the illegal trade of wildlife is a major international problem, worth around $10 billion a year.
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