CBP: 3 monkeys seized at Brownsville International Bridge

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The United States Customs and Border Protection officers seized three live monkeys from a vehicle in Brownsville.

On Dec. 22 at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge, a 48-year-old man attempted to enter the United States in a 2020 Mitsubishi, according to a news release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The U.S. citizen was referred to a secondary vehicle inspection, during which CBP officers discovered three live monkeys hidden inside the vehicle.

Homeland Security Investigations initiated a criminal investigation, seized the vehicle, and arrested the driver, the release stated.

The monkeys were turned over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and will be housed at the Gladys Porter Zoo.

According to the release, some monkeys are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

"Their importation is regulated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ultimately, monkeys are prohibited from importation as pets." CBP says on the release.