Overview
- Guardia Nacional agents found the reptiles on November 12 during a routine check in the airport’s parcel area, opening nine boxes flagged for irregular labeling.
- The turtles were wrapped in socks and packed inside stacked clear plastic containers, which were described in paperwork as cosmetic products.
- The shipment originated in the State of Mexico, lacked documents proving legal origin, and has not been claimed by any sender or recipient.
- Profepa identified the animals as Kinosternon and Trachemys freshwater turtles, with listings under CITES and Mexico’s NOM-059 increasing legal protections.
- Four turtles were found dead, the rest appeared stable, the animals were transferred to a UMA for care, and authorities notified the FGR as investigations continue, with preliminary information pointing to Chinese nationals linked to the shipment.