Feds bust man smuggling hundreds of exotic animals
A Mexican citizen was arrested at the Anzalduas International Bridge in Mission Wednesday after U.S. Customs and Border Protection discovered him to be in possession of hundreds of exotic animals, including snakes and turtles.
Sebastian Cruz-Amaya is charged with smuggling of goods, according to a criminal complaint.
On that day, as Cruz was trying to make entry into Mexico, an officer informed a special agent with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service that Cruz-Amaya had multiple exotic animals concealed within his vehicle discovered during an outbound inspection.
That officer added that Cruz didn’t declare exportation of said animals.
During an interview, Cruz claimed he did declare the animals and said he agreed to export the animals on behalf of another person in Mexico and was expected to be paid about $500 to $600.
Cruz added that, as part of the same agreement, he has exported animals for the same person over 100 times in the last five years after he would retrieve the animals sent via FedEx and/or UPS to the Rio Grande Valley, according to the complaint.
He would then export the animals to Mexico where they would be sold to buyers.
“Cruz estimated that for his actions he received approximately $120,000 but claimed that after paying other individuals for permission to transport the animals through Mexico that he only retained approximately $40,000 for himself,” the complaint stated.
Authorities reviewed Cruz’s phone which revealed multiple communications between him and others regarding the receipt and exportation of animals as well as invoices for said animals.
Cruz was in possession of an invoice dated Oct. 21 from a company in Ohio that had sent about 54 snakes to a UPS store in McAllen.
“The animals recovered from Cruz’s vehicle included over 100 snakes, lizards, frogs, spiders, centipedes, and a turtle,” the complaint stated.
Several of the species are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species which can’t be exported without specified permits, according to the complaint.
Cruz did not have the permits required for exporting exotic animals.
Cruz made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nadia S. Medrano in McAllen federal court Thursday morning, records show.
Editor’s note: This story’s headline has been updated for clarity.
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