A pair of accused smugglers allegedly tried to sneak greater than 60 protected reptiles throughout the US-Mexico border in a vile scheme that left most of the animals useless, federal prosecutors say.
Georgina Bribiesca Chavez, of Tijuana, was arrested final Monday as she allegedly tried to cross into the US in a Volkswagen filled with a weird haul: 4 venomous pit vipers, three caimans, a child crocodile and greater than 60 different reptiles.
A pair of accused smugglers sneaked greater than 60 protected reptiles over the Mexican border in a vile scheme that left most of the animals useless, federal prosecutors say.
The Mexican nationwide, 66, ran a years-long scheme to smuggle unique reptiles out and in of the US along with her trafficking associate, Salvador Pelayo of Chula Vista. Pelayo, 28, was arrested in July and, like Chavez, faces federal costs within the US for trafficking unique wildlife.
On the morning of August 10, Chavez utilized for entry into the US on the San Ysidro Port of Entry, telling a Customs and Border Safety officer that she had nothing to declare, courtroom papers state.
Whereas checking her identification, the officer found that Chavez had an arrest warrant associated to a long-term wildlife trafficking investigation. She was taken into custody, and her automobile was seized.
The next morning, CBP officers assigned to the seized-vehicle lot inspected Chavez’s purple Volkswagen, the place they made a sickening discovery: A compartment behind the rear bench seat contained pillowcases that had been knotted closed and sealed with tape.
One of many pillowcases was transferring, as if one thing dwelling have been inside. The CPB officer referred to as for backup.
That day, the pillowcases have been transported to the San Diego Zoo for examination and dealing with.
Zoo workers opened the packages and located 60 abronia lizards, 4 venomous yellow-blotched palm pit vipers, three caimans, one child crocodile, and one indigo snake.
All three caimans died earlier than the San Diego Zoo may save them. As of final week, the remaining animals have been secure and remained beneath the Zoo’s care.
“These animals weren’t cargo—they have been dwelling creatures subjected to harmful situations for revenue,” stated US Legal professional Adam Gordon.
Prosecutors say Chavez and Pelayo started working collectively to site visitors wildlife into the US to promote to American patrons in 2023.
Federal investigators launched a sting towards the pair 18 months in the past, utilizing undercover brokers to purchase protected turtles as officers noticed Chavez and Pelayo sending and receiving wildlife at delivery facilities round San Diego.
In March 2025 undercover brokers bought 4 protected Mexican field turtles from Pelayo and a associate in Mexico for $6,000, with Chavez assembly the spy in individual to ship the stay animals.
The turtles have been in dangerous well being, seemingly as a result of they have been caught within the wild and had contracted a respiratory illness, prosecutors say. Three months later all 4 had died.
On one other event in March 2025, one other spy bought 4 protected Mexican and Yucatan field turtles from their associate in Mexico, to be shipped to New York. The agent obtained the turtles and transferred them to the Buffalo Zoo.
Pelayo and Chavez made tens of hundreds of {dollars} in earnings from the sale of unique animals to patrons within the US, based on courtroom data.
At instances, they’d purchase protected wildlife that was sourced within the US and export it to Mexico, the place prospects there would buy the uncommon animals.
For instance, Chavez was noticed selecting up Jap field turtles native to New York at a delivery middle in San Diego, which she smuggled into Mexico within the trunk of her purple Volkswagen, prosecutors say.
Chavez and Pelayo have pled not responsible. Chavez is being held in federal custody and is due in courtroom for a preliminary listening to on Aug. 27. Pelayo’s subsequent courtroom date is in October.
