The Federal Attorney General for Environmental Protection (Profepa) carried out the seizure of more than 130 wild animals at Mexico City International Airport. The operation took place in the early hours of February 21, and 137 specimens of wildlife were detected, which were being sent in two suitcases destined for Tokyo-Narita, Japan. These suitcases caught the attention of the authorities thanks to an X-ray examination carried out by the airline, which allowed the discovery of unusual content inside.
Among the seized animals are turtles and frogs, wrapped in socks and containers for transport, a clearly inappropriate method for the transfer of wildlife species. The Attorney General indicated that the seized turtles and frogs were in apparent good physical condition, without injuries, with complete limbs and appropriate responses to stimuli, although the risk they were individually subjected to and the negative impact this illegal trafficking has on the reproductive capacity of the species was evident.
Mariana Boy Tamborrell, head of Profepa, strongly condemned this illegal attempt, announcing the filing of a criminal complaint against those responsible for this action to face the corresponding consequences. The Attorney General emphasized that activities such as the trafficking and illegal transport of protected species are punishable by sentences of up to 9 years in prison, and in cases where protected natural areas are affected or for commercial purposes, these penalties increase. Specifically, the 137 seized frogs and turtles are species subject to protection and regulated by international treaties such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The illegal transport of wild animals poses a serious risk to biodiversity and affected populations, so it is important to take strict measures to prevent such practices that endanger the conservation of species. The surveillance and action work by the competent authorities is fundamental to combat wildlife trafficking and protect fauna both locally and internationally.
