Border Officers Find 69 Live Animals Stuffed in Car Compartment

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers made a shocking discovery at the San Ysidro Port of Entry when they found 69 live animals hidden inside a vehicle compartment.

Federal prosecutors stated that Georgina Bribiesca Chavez, a 66-year-old Tijuana resident, was arrested at the border after a records check revealed an outstanding warrant tied to an ongoing wildlife trafficking investigation.

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Following her apprehension, authorities inspected her seized Volkswagen the next morning and discovered a concealed factory compartment containing pillowcases knotted shut and sealed with tape.

Zoo specialists evaluated the recovered creatures, which included 60 abronia lizards, four venomous yellow-blotched palm pit vipers, three caimans, an indigo snake, and a baby crocodile.

Undercover Probe Uncovers Illegal Exotic Pet Network

Federal authorities revealed that the seizure was the result of an approximately 18-month undercover investigation conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Investigators allege that Chavez and her co-defendant, Salvador Pelayo, operated an illegal wildlife trafficking ring since 2023, generating tens of thousands of dollars from exotic animal sales.

Tragically, prosecutors noted that three caimans perished after being left inside the unventilated vehicle compartment for nearly 24 hours during peak August heat before zoo workers could intervene.

Both suspects have pleaded not guilty to federal Lacey Act trafficking charges, which carry maximum penalties of up to five years in federal prison and substantial fines.