A woman who attempted to smuggle five spider monkeys hidden in a duffel bag from Mexico into Texas pleaded guilty to federal charges, according to court documents from the Southern District of Texas Department of Justice.
On January 13, the woman, identified as Priscilla Sanchez, drove a black Chevrolet Tahoe to the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge in Laredo and told U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers she had nothing to declare. A CBP officer referred her to a secondary inspection, where a greenish-blue duffel bag on the vehicle’s center console drew attention.
“CBP officers removed the bag and noticed it appeared heavy and warm. CBP officers uncovered the bag and discovered five spider monkeys hidden inside the bag,” an arrest affidavit stated. The monkeys, all wearing diapers, were concealed inside.
Spider monkeys are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, making their importation without proper documentation illegal. In a post-arrest interview with Homeland Security Investigations special agents, Sanchez admitted she knew it was illegal to smuggle spider monkeys into the U.S. without permits.
She confessed to keeping monkeys at her home and selling them for $300 to $500 each, adding that she expected to earn about $200 per monkey for this smuggling attempt, court records show.
Sanchez faces up to 20 years in prison. Her sentencing is scheduled for July 1.
CPB officials have uncovered numerous instances of spider smuggling across the southern border, including cases in 2021 and 2022. In both of these cases, the suspects were women.