U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Hidalgo Port of Entry recently intercepted both a spider monkey and over $980,000 worth of cocaine in separate enforcement actions.
"Our frontline CBP officers and agriculture specialists continue to remain vigilant as they conduct their inspections; their attention to detail and inspections experience led to an interception of an endangered species and a significant narcotics seizure in two separate enforcement events," stated Carlos Rodriguez, the Port Director at Hidalgo Port of Entry.
The spider monkey was found on April 6 at the Anzalduas International Bridge. A 20-year-old male U.S. citizen and a 21-year-old female U.S. citizen were involved in the incident. CBP officers directed their vehicle, a 2011 Chevy Equinox, for a secondary inspection and discovered the monkey hidden in a backpack. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service arrested both individuals, and the monkey was transported to Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas.
The importation of monkeys, protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, is regulated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Monkeys are prohibited from being imported as pets.
On the same day at the Hidalgo International Bridge, officers discovered cocaine in a 2008 Ford Explorer driven by a 68-year-old Mexican citizen. CBP officers conducted a secondary inspection involving a nonintrusive imaging system and a canine examination, revealing 28 packages containing 73.41 pounds of cocaine. This cocaine is valued at approximately $980,218. The narcotics and vehicle were seized, the driver was arrested, and a criminal investigation was initiated by HSI special agents.
CBP continues to protect U.S. borders by preventing the spread of pests and diseases and intercepting illegal narcotics.
