Pythons, frogs, tarantulas: CBP seizes 163 exotic pets at Mission's Anzalduas International Bridge

MISSION, Texas (ValleyCentral) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a driver who allegedly attempted to smuggle more than 160 species of reptiles and arthropods into Mexico.

On Oct. 22, CBP officers at the Anzalduas International Bridge came across a silver Toyota leaving the U.S. to cross into Mexico.

According to a news release from CBP, the vehicle was selected for secondary inspection.

(Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

During the physical inspection, CBP officers found 163 reptiles and arthropods 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 

CBP officers seized the vehicle and Homeland Security Investigations special agents arrested the driver, initiating a criminal investigation. CBP did not identify the driver in the news release.

“The smuggling of exotic pets has been on the rise in our area, and we work closely with our partners of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect and preserve these creatures and ensure that importations and exportations of wildlife adhere to all applicable federal requirements,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.

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.