A man has been caught with two pigeons stuffed in his trousers after he got off a flight from Dubai to Melbourne.

Australian customs officials say the live birds were wrapped in padded envelopes and held to the man's legs by a pair of tights under his trousers.

Officials also found two eggs in a vitamin container in the man's luggage.

Australia has strict quarantine rules on the importation of wildlife, plants and food. The man, 23, could face up to 10 years in jail.

The nation's quarantine regulations are designed to protect health, agriculture and the environment.

As well as 10 years' imprisonment, the maximum sentence for wildlife smuggling includes a fine of A$110,000 (US$70,480; £48,902).

Customs officials say they also seized seeds in the man's money belt and an undeclared aubergine [ ], following the flight on Sunday.

They add that the pigeons were not endangered and that the case, as well as the birds, eggs and seeds, has been turned over to the country's Quarantine Service to assess the health risk.

Are you sure the birds were not trying to smuggle a werewolf in.

The "undeclared aubergine" got me I'm afraid

bollocks, he`d get less for smuggling coke! ten years?

Me too - that's why I had to bold it

you have a link please miss:)

Sorry jase I didn't bother as that was all the text

Full story here...

10 years is about right it is very strict..

Hi MissGuided, Thats an old one. As a former pigeon fancier I know a very close relative of mine who did that several times, He was a top racing man in N.Ireland. His birds were very valuable having won the Kings Cup.
Because of the strict Agricultural Regulations in N.Ireland he used to take a couple of birds to sell at the big Blackpool Show.He used a method very similar to the one you describe.
Another method of sending eggs of valuable birds is to cut a loaf of bread in two,make two indentations ,place two eggs in the indentations .Then send them by parcel post. No problem.
Jimmy.

Of course you could always put them in a pie

In a pie ???? Eggs worth £100 each,. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Easy tiger lol Men and pigeons *rolls eyes*

Was the aubergine also in his trousers? Perhaps he wanted to brag about something

Snod

My thoughts exactly - they are some hairy legs.

He should have just stuck some velcro hooks on the birds and stuck them to his legs

ow

You have an evil streak starting to appear there Stuy - is the real you being revealed

How many people send a loaf by post? Apart from people trying to smuggle a pair of eggs in the post!

The best way to send bread by post is to send it still baking in a bread maker hooked up to a car battery.

Yes and they won't bat an eyelid because they know it must be costing you shitloads for the postage - and they need the money