Tijuana, Baja California — A shipment labeled as “cosmetics” was found transporting live turtles at the Tijuana airport. On November 12, inspectors from the Federal Attorney General’s Office for Environmental Protection (Profepa), in coordination with members of the National Guard, rescued 774 turtles at the Tijuana airport.
The turtles were wrapped in socks and placed inside plastic boxes, which were in turn arranged inside nine cardboard boxes labeled “cosmetics.”
The operation was carried out thanks to an alert issued by National Guard after they detected something suspicious in the boxes during their inspection in the airport’s package handling area.
More than 700 turtles were found inside plastic containers.
Inspectors from the Profepa office in Baja California traveled to the site to assist the National Guard. Both teams emptied the crates to count all the specimens and verify their physical condition.
During the inspection, it was determined that the reptiles were freshwater and belonged to the genera Kinosternon sp. and Trachemys sp. A total of 774 specimens were counted, of which four had died. The rest appeared to be in good condition.
“The shipment arrived in Tijuana from the State of Mexico without documentation proving the turtles’ legal origin or anyone claiming the package. According to preliminary information, both the sender and recipient are presumed to be Chinese,” Profepa said in a statement.
Profepa initiated the corresponding administrative procedure, while the National Guard notified the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) to carry out the relevant legal and investigative actions.
All specimens have been transferred to a Wildlife Conservation Management Unit (UMA) that has facilities and meets the appropriate conditions for their care and protection.
“Illegal wildlife trafficking is one of the greatest threats to our biodiversity. That is why we are strengthening our strategies to combat this crime at all stages of the trafficking chain and will take all necessary steps to ensure this case has consequences.
“Furthermore, we urge the public to report these illegal extractions. The work we are doing will be more effective if we act together,” stated Attorney General Mariana Boy Tamborrell.
