A routine highway checkpoint in southern Chiapas has halted an ambitious wildlife-trafficking run after federal environmental agents discovered 3,400 juvenile Meso-American slider turtles (Trachemys venusta) jammed inside unventilated cardboard cartons. The driver, who failed to produce any proof of legal origin, was taken into custody on Friday on charges of illegal trade in protected species, Mexico’s environmental protection prosecutor (PROFEPA) confirmed.phys.org
Crammed cargo, no paperwork
Inspectors said the animals were so densely packed that many could barely move, a clear breach of Mexico’s animal-welfare and conservation rules. Under NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010, the freshwater slider is listed as a species under “special protection,” meaning any commercial movement requires strict permits and proven captive-breeding records.profepa.gob.mx
Next stop: rehabilitation
All turtles were transferred to a certified wildlife rescue unit where veterinarians will assess their health and decide whether they can be re-introduced into their native wetlands that stretch from southern Mexico through Central America to Colombia.
Bigger picture
PROFEPA data show freshwater turtles are among the most trafficked reptiles in the region, prized for the exotic-pet trade and traditional medicine. Authorities say this seizure is one of the largest in recent memory and underscores the growing use of overland routes to move live animals toward clandestine markets.
Penalties and prevention
If convicted, the driver faces fines and prison terms of up to nine years under Mexico’s General Wildlife Law. Officials added that joint operations with customs and military police will intensify through the summer—peak season for poaching hatchlings—aiming to cut off supply before it reaches border staging points.
Anyone with information on wildlife trafficking can report anonymously via PROFEPA’s hotline or its mobile app.
