Finch Filching Man Smuggled 34 Birds Inside Hair Rollers: Feds

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — A Connecticut man stuffed $100,000 worth of finches into plastic hair curlers and tried to smuggle them into the city to compete in singing contests, according to federal prosecutors.

Francis Gurahoo, 39, was busted in John F. Kennedy Airport Sunday with 34 live finches, which he intended to sell for about $3,000 a pop, inside his carry-on bag, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

Gurahoo, of Connecticut, confessed that he smuggled the bird from Guyana and planned to sell them to competitors in singing contests, which take place in parks across Brooklyn and Queens, according to the criminal complaint.

Spectators often gamble on the outcome of these contests and the finch ruled to have the best voice can be worth up to $5,000, according to court records.

This is not first time U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers at JFK have intercepted a finch filching scheme, according to the complaint.

Guyanan birds are believed to have better singing voices, which is why people often try to smuggle them into the country, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent testified.