Moving pillowcase leads to discovery of reptiles in car seized at border

U.S. border agents discovered a cache of endangered reptiles in the seized car of a woman stopped at the Mexico-U.S. border due to a warrant. Georgina Bribiesca Chavez, 66, from Tijuana, Mexico, was apprehended on August 10 for allegedly smuggling reptiles with her alleged accomplice, Salvador Pelayo. The arrest came after an undercover investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which uncovered multiple undercover sales of protected turtles between the two in 2023.

Chavez, upon being informed about the outstanding arrest warrant, was taken into custody and the vehicle was seized. The next day, while investigating the car, agents found a hidden compartment behind a rear seat containing pillowcases. One of these pillowcases moved, leading to the items being transferred to the San Diego Zoo for examination.

Inside the pillowcases, they found 60 Abronia lizards, four venomous yellow-blotched palm pit vipers, three caimans, one baby crocodile, and one indigo snake. Several of these species are listed as endangered or threatened under international agreements.

Tragically, two of the caimans died before they could receive proper care at the San Diego Zoo. Despite her arrest, Chavez did not reveal the presence of live animals in the car, leaving them abandoned in the San Ysidro heat for nearly 24 hours. All the other reptiles found were deemed stable and are now being cared for at the zoo.

During her initial court appearance on the wildlife trafficking charges, Chavez pleaded not guilty. Her partner, 28-year-old Pelayo, has also pleaded not guilty. The U.S. Attorney's Office stated that Chavez and Pelayo initiated the trafficking scheme in 2023 with the goal of selling exotic reptiles. They allegedly engaged in multiple undercover sales of protected turtles and shipped and received wildlife at shipping centers in the San Diego area. Authorities allege that the duo made tens of thousands of dollars from these sales.