Drug and currency seizures are known to happen at local border crossings, but on Monday, officers seized live birds hidden in boxes in a pickup truck, officials said.

Around 9 p.m., a 2002 Ford pickup attempted to cross into the United States at the Ysleta International Port of Entry. The passenger told U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers that the vehicle was carrying live birds. 

Officers found a live rooster in one box, four live hens in another box and a live parakeet in another box. The driver told officers that they were attempting to travel to Mexico but were returned to the U.S. because of paperwork issues. 

"The importation of live birds is closely regulated because of the potential for the introduction of disease," said Hector Mancha, CBP El Paso port director.

The occupants abandoned the birds at the border crossing, and they were turned over to the USDA Veterinary Services.

"In this case, the traveler did the right thing by declaring the birds to CBP upon arrival," Mancha said. "Because we could not confirm that the birds originated in the U.S., we had to assume they came directly from Mexico and needed to follow our existing procedures for bird imports."