In the US a man was arrested for hiding 35 live finches in hair curlers

The Guyanese 36-year-old is now alleged to have been smuggling the birds into the US for singing contests.

JFK airport police arrested a man from Guyana, who was hiding 35 finches inside hair curlers. The man is now suspected of smuggling.

When Kevin Andre McKenzie was arrested at the airport on Monday, it was found out that the man was hiding 35 live finches under his jacket and trousers. The birds were covered with a mesh cloth and squeezed into the hair curlers.

McKenzie admitted he was paid $3,000 (£2,162) to smuggle the finches to New York. The 36-year-old is now charged with the illegal importation of wildlife and, if convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.

This is not the fist time that hair curlers are used to bring finches into the US. Earlier this month, another man tried to bring dozens of live birds from Guyana to the US for singing contests.

Singing contests between finches usually take place in public areas like parks. Here, two finches sing and a judge decides which bird has the best voice. The winner finch increases in value and can be sold for more than $10,000.

This is the reason why people try tu smuggle finches in the US. Although these birds are American, the Guyanese variety is the most sought-after for such competitions.