Texas agents find 163 hidden species

At the Anzalduas International Bridge on Oct. 22, federal agents inspecting a silver Toyota bound for Mexico uncovered 163 concealed species — more than a dozen types of pythons, over 30 other snakes including a ghost Aztec jungle boa, plus tarantulas, salamanders, frogs and bearded dragons. Officers seized the truck, arrested the driver, and turned the reptiles and spiders over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a criminal probe began. Port officials said exotic pet smuggling is rising, noting recent spider monkey cases, with nearly 90 baby spider monkeys confiscated at the Texas-Mexico border in the past 18 months.

Reviewed by JQJO team

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