Woman Arrested in Tijuana for Hiding 69 Wild Animals in Car

Federal prosecutors have identified a woman living in Tijuana as the subject of an arrest made at the U.S.-Mexico border. Agents from Customs and Border Protection found sixty-nine live creatures stuffed inside pillowcases that had been taped shut within a hidden compartment of her Volkswagen. The haul included venomous vipers, caimans, and even a baby crocodile. This discovery happened on August 10 when officers stopped Georgina Bribiesca Chavez, who was trying to enter the country through the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

Chavez told an officer she had nothing to declare during her attempt to cross. However, a quick records check revealed an outstanding warrant linked to a wildlife trafficking investigation. Seizing the vehicle immediately after stopping it, officers waited until the following morning to inspect the car fully. Behind the rear seat, they uncovered the concealed factory compartment holding the knotted pillowcases sealed with tape. One of those bags was still moving when found.

The animals were transported to the San Diego Zoo for care and assessment. Workers located sixty abronia lizards, four venomous yellow-blotched palm pit vipers, three caimans, a baby crocodile, and an indigo snake inside the vehicle according to Justice Department records. Prosecutors stated that Chavez never informed officers about the living cargo, leaving them exposed to nearly twenty-four hours of intense August heat. All three caimans died during this period while the remaining animals remained stable under zoo care as of last week.

Chavez pleaded not guilty to a federal wildlife trafficking charge and was ordered held without bond. Her alleged partner in crime, Salvador Pelayo, faces similar charges after being arrested in July. He also entered a plea of not guilty. The arrests concluded an approximately eighteen-month undercover investigation led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Prosecutors allege that Chavez and Pelayo have worked together since 2023 to traffic wildlife for tens of thousands of dollars.

During one specific alleged transaction in March 2025, Chavez delivered four protected Mexican box turtles to an agent for $2,600 cash shortly after crossing the border. All four turtles died later after being transferred to the Oakland Zoo. Prosecutors explained that these turtles were already in poor health when acquired and likely wild-caught while suffering from respiratory disease. Pelayo is separately accused of using the alias Jose Lopez to ship four protected Mexican and Yucatan box turtles to an undercover agent in New York.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Office of Law Enforcement leads this investigation with assistance from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Both defendants now face Lacey Act trafficking charges that carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison plus a $250,000 fine. These actions highlight how limited access to information can hide illegal activities until law enforcement uncovers them through careful inspection. The case underscores the severe risks exotic animal trafficking poses to both wildlife populations and human communities involved in such networks.