Americans are well aware of a crisis at the southern border, but the danger is more than bad actors sneaking across, all manner of things are smuggled across the border, and what came across recently left agents in shock!
You won’t believe what man tries to sneak across the border
Border authorities are continually amazed at the things people try to sneak across the border, but what they discovered a few weeks ago may be the most shocking thing ever – definitely not for the squeamish!
On February 25, 2022, at around 3 AM, authorities had almost a sixth sense about a man driving a truck across the San Ysidro border crossing with Mexico. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) ordered the driver to pull over for further inspection. Authorities recognized something squirmy about the man right away.
Upon further inspection, they discovered that the man was hiding 52 live reptiles within his clothing, tied up in small bags.
Live reptiles “were concealed in the man’s jacket, pants pockets, and groin area,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement, according to the Associated Press.
Hidden within the man’s clothing, agents found nine snakes and 43 horned lizards. Authorities said that some of the seized reptiles are considered endangered species.
“Smugglers will try every possible way to try and get their product, or in this case live reptiles, across the border,” said Customs and Border Protection director of field operations in San Diego, Sidney Aki. “In this occasion, the smuggler attempted to deceive CBP officers in order to bring these animals into the US, without taking care for the health and safety of the animals.”
The animals will be held in quarantine for protection, as some are endangered.
Non-native species can hurt agriculture and economy
Officials said bringing creatures that aren’t native to the United States can hurt the economy, as well as cause millions of dollars in damages to US agriculture, NPR reported. Sometimes smugglers unknowingly also bring in non-native insects along with the items they are smuggling.
Man arrested
The truck driver was a 30-year-old man who is a United States citizen. U.S. Customs and Border Protection arrested the man but did not identify him by name or reveal what violations he was being charged with. The man was booked into the Metropolitan Correctional Center
