Authorities confiscate large turtles at Mexico City airport

Officials of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (Profepa) seized 200 turtles at Mexico City International Airport (AICM) after it was discovered that their export documents were false.

The passenger travelled with 193 living specimens of the common tortoise (Kinosternon acutum), one dead and six living specimens of the scorpion turtle with a broken chest (Kinosternon scorpioides). They all travelled with documents relating to the white-lipped turtle (Kinosternon leucostomum).

In a press release, Profepa said the specimens would be sent to a specialized wildlife unit of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat).

The illegal pet market is one of the main factors contributing to the extinction of species in their natural habitat.

According to Profepa, between 150 and 200 exotic animals are confiscated every year in the greater Mexico City area alone. The head of Profepa in Mexico City, Lucio García Gil, told the newspaper The Daily that the species most frequently confiscated in the capital include exotic birds such as macaws or parrots, reptiles, primates and big cats. These are owned by wealthy families, merchants and even drug lords.

One such example was a monkey named “Botas,” which belonged to the notorious cartel boss Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.

Mexican law allows the ownership of exotic wild animals provided they are purchased from authorized companies and properly cared for.

In Mexico, illegal possession and trafficking of turtles can result in a prison sentence of up to nine years and fines ranging from 74,400 to 744,000 pesos (US$3,981 to US$39,810).

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