A 30 year old Southern Californian man was accused of smuggling 1,700 reptiles from Mexico and Hong Kong, without permits. The animals included baby crocodiles, Mexican beaded lizards, Yucatan and Mexican box turtles. Jose Manuel Perez faces two counts of wildlife trafficking, nine counts of smuggling goods into the U.S., and one count of conspiracy after allegedly transporting the animals for a black-market business. Perez and others allegedly used social media to buy, sell and arrange delivery of reptiles in the U.S. between 2016 and 2022, advertising with photos and videos of the animals.

Perez was caught on 25 February 2022 at the San Ysidro border crossing with Mexico, with 60 lizards and snakes in bags concealed in his jacket, trouser pockets, and groin. He claimed the animals “were his pets”. Perez faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment for each count of smuggling and five years imprisonment for each count of conspiracy and wildlife trafficking. His sister is also charged with conspiracy and faces maximum sentence of five years imprisonment.

Prosecutors allege the Perez siblings worked with co-conspirators based in Mexico, Indiana and Florida to negotiate sales. The reptiles were transported to Ciudad Juarez International Airport in Mexico, then by car to El Paso, Texas, with a final destination of Perez’s home in Missouri. The animals were shipped to California when Perez moved. The co-conspirators allegedly received “crossing fees” each time they successfully crossed borders with the live animals.