In a pair of situations that led to the detention of three people on Sunday, U.S. Border Patrol agents seized an illegitimate spider monkey and around 73 pounds of methamphetamine at the southwestern border between the United States and Mexico.
In a press release released on Wednesday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated that” a spider monkey, more than$ 88K in cocaine, and agriculture professionals at Hidalgo Port of Entry were intercepted this weekend in two separate, unrelated police steps.”
As the two people entered the country via the Anzalduas International Bridge, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol agents flagged a 20-year-old gentleman and a 21-year-old victim’s car for a tertiary observation on Sunday. Both people were identified by U.S. Customs and Border Protection as U.S. people.
Border Patrol agents discovered a spider monkey “hidden in a suitcase inside the vehicle” during the supplementary examination.
Following the discovery and arrest of both persons, Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service launched a legal investigation, according to the press release on Wednesday. The Gladys Porter Zoo, which is in Brownsville, Texas, is where the spider monkey was likewise transported by authorities.
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According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the execution of some monkey species is regulated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and that certain types are protected by the Agreement on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Additionally, it is against the law for primates to be imported as dogs, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Border Patrol agents reportedly seized around 73 pounds of “alleged methamphetamine” after conducting a second inspection of a 68-year-old Hispanic individual’s vehicle at the Hidalgo International Bridge, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The alleged cocaine’s value was estimated at$ 888 ( 218 ) by officials. Homeland Security Investigations confirmed that the 68-year-old was being detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.  ,
Our frontline, CBP officers, and agriculture specialists continue to be on the lookout for violations of their inspection procedures, according to Hidalgo Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, who said their attention to detail and experience led to the interception of an endangered species and a major narcotics arrest in two distinct enforcement incidents. We continue to work hard to stop the spread of pet diseases and the abuse of guarded animals. Our continued dedication to our border security mission is further strengthened by the convulsions of marijuana.
