A Palestinian Authority resident was caught at the Allenby Bridge crossing from Jordan into Israel, trying to smuggle 40 relatively rare goldfinches hidden in stockings.
After being caught by the customs checkers at the crossing, he was transferred to the Civil Administration's Nature Reserves Unit for investigation and subsequently to the Israel Police. The cost of a goldfinch can reach thousands of shekels. Goldfinches are considered one of the popular songbirds among breeders and hunters. The great demand in the markets has led to a decline in the breed's numbers in recent decades due to hunting and trade.