A Trinidadian and two Venezuelans were detained by Coast Guard Officers on Tuesday after they were found with one bullfinch bird in a cage.

The men were in a pirogue that was entering Trinidad from Venezuelan waters. The Coast Guard officers were on patrol in the Gulf of Paria at the time. The suspects and the bird were all taken to Cedros Police Station and inquiries are ongoing.

There is an illegal wildlife trade between T&T and Venezuela and trained bullfinches can be sold for thousands of TT dollars.