Sydney: Australians call tiny swimming trunks “budgie smugglers”, but the term might have new meaning after customs officials at Sydney’s airport said on Wednesday that they found 16 wild-bird eggs in the crotch of a passenger’s pants.
The 39-year-old Czech man arrived on Tuesday on a flight from the Middle East when customs officials selected him for a baggage examination, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service said in a statement.
“Officers conducted a frisk search of the man and allegedly found 16 small eggs concealed in his groin area,” the statement said.
There was no word on whether it was budgies — small parrots also known as budgerigars — that were allegedly smuggled. The species has yet to be identified.
The man, whose name has not been released, was to appear in a Sydney court on Wednesday charged under environmental protection laws with attempting to import regulated live specimens without a permit. The charge carries maximum penalties of 10 years in prison and a fine of A$170,000 (Dh576,645).
