Overview
- CBP officers conducting an outbound inspection on March 5 selected a 2021 Peterbilt at the Laredo World Trade Bridge and found 39 live pythons concealed inside.
- The driver had given a negative declaration for prohibited goods before officers directed the tractor to secondary inspection.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents took custody of the snakes, which were individually bagged and in poor condition, and moved them to a controlled facility.
- CBP seized the tractor and trailer and issued $34,824 in penalties for export violations tied to the attempted shipment.
- Officials noted that exporting live reptiles is tightly regulated and said the case remains under investigation by the Fish and Wildlife Service and Homeland Security Investigations.