2 fined $18,400 for smuggling birds

TWO South Trinidad men were on Friday fined $18,400 by a Siparia magistrate who found them guilty of smuggling a number of protected birds into the country. Siparia CID detectives were on patrol along Beach Road in Palo Seco on June 9, when they saw two men taking out crates containing birds from a pirogue. Kelly Beharry and Heera Seepersad were then arrested and charged with having 85 Peco Platts, 15 Robins, ten Bull Finches and eight Yellow Head Parrots in their possession. After their arrest, charges were laid by Customs Officer Clyde Simon and Estate Constable Steve Seepersad of the Forestry Division.

The men, who appeared before magistrate Adrian Damanie in the Siparia Magistrates’ Court Friday, were also charged with off-loading uncustomed goods, entering a place not designated as a port of entry, possession of protected animals, storing birds in an undersized cage and ill-treatment of animals. The cases against the men, who pleaded not guilty, began several weeks ago.
Beharry and Seepersad were each fined $9,200 or ordered to serve six months hard labour.