Mexican authorities carried out an operation in Ocoyoacac, 50 kilometers west of Mexico City, seizing 27 exotic animals, including lions, white tigers, panthers, wolves, and mandrills, as well as two long guns and over 360 cartridges.
The operation resulted in the arrest of 41 individuals.
Context and Operation Details
The discovery of exotic animals and their subsequent seizure in Mexico is not new, often linked to organized crime groups. These animals are usually illegally kept in private homes or estates.
Some cartel leaders have been known to have exotic animals on their properties.
Notable Cases
In 2022, a confiscation in a town dominated by organized crime in Jalisco included 10 tigers, six jaguars, five lions, antelopes, a llama, deer, and birds.
Mexican drug traffickers have shown a fascination for exotic animals, with incidents including a spider monkey dressed as a cartel’s mascot dying in a shootout and a tiger wandering the streets of Nayarit.
Controversial Possession of Exotic Species
Also in 2022, authorities evacuated over 200 animals from a shelter southwest of the Mexican capital. These animals, rescued from circuses or seized due to illegal trafficking, were in very poor conditions.
Have you visited our YouTube channel? Subscribe now!
