A shipment of 261 parrot eggs was seized at Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands

Officials from the Dutch Authority for Food and Consumer Safety seized 261 parrot eggs from passengers at Schiphol Airport; the eggs were likely stolen from the wild. 

This was reported by NOS.

The contraband was discovered on March 26, 2026, in the possession of a man and a woman who were transiting from Latin America to Asia. The couple had no documentation regarding the origin of the goods, and each egg was wrapped in paper or hidden inside T-shirts in their carry-on luggage.

During the inspection, a chick began to hatch from one of the eggs. All seized items, along with the newborn parrot, were immediately transferred to a specialized shelter for proper care. Experts are currently determining the exact species of the bird. According to NOS, the smuggling of exotic species remains a lucrative black-market business, and increased controls at European airports are part of a broader strategy to combat the illegal trade in wild animals.

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