HO CHI MINH CITY – A man has been arrested at a Vietnamese airport after custom officials discovered 18 live birds in his pants and luggage.

The man, believed to be a Vietnamese national, was searched on Tuesday at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City when suspicious items were detected inside his checked bag.

He allegedly tried to smuggle the live birds to Taiwan by strapping them to his legs under his pants and storing the rest in special cases in his luggage.

Among the birds being smuggled, 11 have reportedly been listed as endangered species. They include singing birds such as the white-rumped shama, oriental shama and melodious laughing thrush.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the case.

The illegal trade of wildlife is a major international problem and is believed to be a $10 billion-a-year business.

– with other agencies