Customs inspectors at the Allenby Bridge border crossing near Jericho foiled an attempt on Thursday to smuggle 40 wild goldfinches from Jordan.
A resident of the Samarian Palestinian Authority city of Shechem, returning from a visit to the Hashemite Kingdom, aroused the suspicions of customs checkers in the passenger terminal. A body search revealed the birds in the suspect's pants. The man and the birds - with a market value of 150-500 shekels each were sent to representatives of the Agriculture Ministry.