Driver found with 166 exotic animals hidden at Anzalduas bridge

11 hours ago 18

MISSION, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A criminal complaint obtained by ValleyCentral details the discovery of a man attempting to smuggle over 100 reptiles and arthropods into Mexico.

On Oct. 22, the United States Customs and Border Protection officers at the Anzalduas Port of Entry encountered a silver Toyota driven by a man, identified as Sebastian Cruz-Amaya, who was leaving the U.S. to cross into Mexico.

In a previous ValleyCentral report, CBP reported Cruz-Amaya was selected for a secondary inspection.

During the physical inspection, CBP Officers say they found dozens of exotic animals hidden inside the car. According to the criminal complaint, Cruz-Amaya did not inform or declare to CBP officers regarding the exportation of any animals until they were found.

During an interview with CBP, investigators say Cruz-Amaya told them he had agreed to export the animals on behalf of someone in Mexico and would be paid approximately $500 to $600, the complaint detailed.

As part of the agreement, Amaya-Cruz estimated he had exported the animals for the same person over 100 times in the last five years.

He also told investigators that as part of the scheme, he would retrieve animals that were sent through FedEx and/or UPS to the Rio Grande Valley and export the animals to Mexico, where they would be sold to other buyers, the criminal complaint stated.

According to Cruz, he estimated he received approximately $120,000 but claimed that after paying other individuals for permission to transport the animals through Mexico, he was left with approximately $40,000.

The Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) also asked Amaya-Cruz about an ongoing investigation into a different smuggling case.

In an interview with Cruz's passenger, identified as Javier Issac Banos-Estopier, told investigators he was unaware of any exportation of animals to CBP officers before their discovery by authorities, according to the complaint.

Banos-Estopier denied having any knowledge of the animals being concealed within the vehicle, CBP stated in the complaint.

However, the complaint states that a review of Amaya-Cruz's cellphone revealed multiple messages between Amaya-Cruz and others regarding the receipt and exportation of multiple animals, as well as various invoices for the animals.

In the messages, there was also a description of an exportation of lemurs, CPB stated in the criminal complaint.

Additionally, a review of the items in the vehicle, Amaya-Cruz's possession, had also revealed an invoice that was dated Oct. 21, 2025, from a company in Phio that had sent approximately 54 snakes to a UPS Store in McAllen to be delivered on Oct. 22.

A total of 166 reptiles and arthropods were found hidden within the vehicle, including:

24 Royal Pythons
15 Green Anoles
11 Spotted Salamanders
10 Sick Red Eye Tree Frogs
10 Albino Milk Snakes
10 Orange Milk Snakes
10 Mexican Black King Snakes
Four Monarch Ball Pythons
Four Tarantulas
Three yellow Pacman Frogs
Three coffee Pacman Frogs
Three Chilean Rose Tarantulas
Three Irian Jaya Blue Tongued Skinks
Three bearded Dragons
Three Savannah Monitors
Three Rankin Dragons
Three Albino Aberrant Calif. King Snakes
Three Albino Banded Calif. King Snakes
Three Albino Striped Calif. King Snakes
Three Albino/Amelanistic Corn Snakes
Three Black Corn Snakes
Two Ball Pythons
Two Honduran Milk Snakes
Two Ornate Monitor Lizards
Two Chinese Caved Geckos
Two Veiled Chameleons
Two Centipedes
Two Green Tree Pythons
Two High White Calif. King Snakes
One Timor Python
One Carpet Python
One Garter Snake
One Banana Blade Clown
One Banana Spotnose
One Pinstripe Ball Python
One Fire Skink
One Indian Star Tortoise
One Ghost Aztec Jungle Boa
One Female Juvenile Axanthic Banana Ball Python
One Female Juveline Axanthic Banana Lesser Ball Python
One Juveline Axanthic Lesser Ball Python
One Juveline Axanthic Ball Python
One Juvenile Ghost Piebald Ball Python
One Juvenile Piebald Ball Python
One Male Juvenile Axanthic Banana Enchi Ball Python

According to CBP, some of the animals recovered were identified to be protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and cannot be exported without proper specific documentation.

CBP officers seized the vehicle and Homeland Security Investigations special agents arrested the driver, initiating a criminal investigation.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service took custody of the reptiles and spiders.

CBP wants to remind the public that a lawful importation and exportation of wildlife, such as reptiles, requires the completion of the exportation of fish or wildlife; exportation must be done through a designated port and clearance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

In most cases, licenses are required, and user fees must be paid.

For more information, visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service import and export forms.

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