Agents find roosters smuggled in truck

By Lyndsay Leonelli,
Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 5:16 p.m.

SAN DIEGO — Federal authorities thwarted a smuggling attempt when they discovered 50 birds. destined to be sold for cockfights. that were stuffed in nylon stockings in the back of a pickup truck headed into Mexico, officials said Wednesday.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents discovered the 46 roosters and four hens during an inspection at the San Ysidro border crossing about 10:15 a.m. Monday. The birds were found in a secret compartment in the truck bed, stacked on top of each other and stuffed in nylon stockings with their legs bound by Velcro. Authorities believe the birds had been sedated with alcohol for the trip.

Sixteen of the birds were found dead, and the surviving birds appeared to be in good health, officials said. The remaining animals were handed over to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Customs officials believe the birds were most likely to be sold and used in rooster fights and for breeding. The 32-year-old driver, a Mexican citizen who lives in Tijuana, was booked into federal jail in San Diego and charged with one count of transporting animals to be used in cockfights, according to court records.

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