Bengal tiger seized at Sonoran port of entry
Published: Monday, January 30, 2023 - 6:22pm
Last week, Mexican officials made a surprising discovery at a port of entry in northern Sonora.
While searching a semi truck at a customs facility near Sonoyta, Sonora — where most Arizonans cross the border en route to Rocky Point — officials, including members of the National Guard, found a Bengal tiger. The subspecies is considered endangered.
The driver of the truck was arrested, and the tiger was reportedly taken to the Sonoran Ecological Center in Hermosillo.
A report from the Center for Biological Diversity released late last year found that wildlife trafficking is a major issue in Mexico, with sales occurring brazenly on social media and authorities overwhelmed by the scale of criminal activity.