Ep 3. Smuggled and Muzzled

To Catch a Smuggler is a riveting investigative television series that follows a team of undercover agents tasked with tracking down criminals involved in smuggling illegal goods into the United States. Season 4 kicks off with episode 1, titled "Smuggled and Muzzled."

The episode begins with the team receiving a tip-off that a shipment of exotic birds is due to arrive at JFK International Airport. The birds are believed to be illegally smuggled from South America, and the team is called in to intercept the shipment and arrest the perpetrators.

As the team prepares for the operation, they put on their undercover disguises and head to the airport. They work in tandem with customs officials and the TSA, monitoring incoming flights from South America. Finally, they identify the shipment in question and move in to search the cargo hold.

However, the team is surprised to find that the birds are not simply stowed away in crates or cages. They are actually strapped to the bodies of the smugglers themselves, muzzled with cloth wraps to keep them from squawking and attracting attention.

The team realizes that they are dealing with a new kind of smuggling operation, one that is far more elaborate and dangerous than anything they have encountered before. They must use all their training and expertise to apprehend the smugglers without harming the birds or the public, who could be put at risk if the smugglers were to escape.

Through a combination of covert surveillance, undercover work, and swift action, the team is able to successfully intercept the smugglers and recover the birds. As the smugglers are taken into custody, the team must contend with the cruelty and inhumanity of the smuggling trade, even as they celebrate a successful bust.

The episode concludes with a sobering reminder that the smuggling trade is a serious problem that continues to harm innocent animals and exploit vulnerable workers around the world. The team vows to continue their work, bringing smugglers to justice and making the world a safer place for all.