Photo: ULISES RUIZ / AFP / Getty Images
By: Real America News Updated 09 Sea 2022, 22: 00 PM EST
A United States citizen of 30 years old, from Mexico, was detained after border agents conducted an inspection at the port of San Ysidro.
The man was intercepted at a police checkpoint while driving a truck. When reviewing it, the elements were a great surprise, finding 52 live reptiles transported in small plastic bags very well tied and hidden in your jacket, pockets of his pants and his groin area.
According to the statement issued by the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the arrest was made in the past 25 February, seizing a total of 43 horned lizards (Phrynosoma ) also known as “cry blood” and nine snakes.
“Smugglers will try all possible ways to cross the border with their product, or in this case live reptiles,” said Sidney Aki, director of CBP field operations in San Diego.
“On this occasion, the smuggler tried trick CBP officers into bringing these animals into the US, without caring for the health and safety of the animals. CBP enforces hundreds of laws at the border for more than 40 different government agencies, in part to help stop smuggling attempts like these that can lead to the trafficking of possibly endangered species.”
The vehicle was seized and live animals kept in a safe, protected area and will remain in quarantine because some species have been identified as endangered .
“This seizure is the direct result of a coordinated investigative effort by San Diego Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and Customs and Border Protection…will continue to investigate the illegal smuggling and trafficking of endangered wildlife for their own financial gain,” said Chad Plantz , special agent in charge of HSI San Diego.
Although the Authorities have not released the name of the smuggler, he was arrested for attempted smuggling of live reptiles, turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigators (HSI) and Fish and Life Services. Silvestre (F&WS) to later be transferred and booked into the Metropolitan Correctional Center.
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