Bird smuggler

A man has been charged with smuggling songbirds into the United States by hiding more than a dozen of them in an elaborate, custom-made pair of leggings during a flight from Vietnam to Los Angeles.

Sony Dong, 46, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport in March after an inspector spotted bird feathers and droppings on his socks and tail feathers peeking out from under his trousers.

The rare songbirds sell for $10 to $30 (£6.60 to £20) in Vietnam but can fetch as much as $400 (£265).

Mr Dong had three red-whiskered bul-buls, four magpie robins and six shama thrush under his trousers.

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