Trafficking in Protected Wildlife

Six people in Florida where indicted on 21 counts of illegally dealing in protected species of migratory birds.^[1] The indictment was obtained after one of the men was arrested at Miami’s airport with two rare Cuban birds hidden in his underwear.^[2] The defendants are accused of violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act,^[3] which is a serious transnational crime.

Migratory Bird Treaty Act
16 U.S.C. § 703 states that it is illegal to possess or sell any migratory bird that is listed in any of the treaties that have been signed that concern the protection of migratory birds.^[4]

The punishment for knowingly selling, attempting to sell, or possessing with intent to sell, such a bird is a fine of not more than $2,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both.^[5]

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[1] Six in Fla. Charged in Illegal Bird Sales, Associated Press, Aug. 30, 2005, available here.
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] 16 U.S.C. § 703(a).
[5] Id. § 707(b).