Mexican federal raids seize exotic tigers, ocelot, lince and 32 horses

Federal authorities carried out coordinated operations in the state of Durango that resulted in the seizure of three Bengal tigers, an ocelot and a lince, together with 32 equines (horses, mares, ponies, foals and a donkey). The raid also confiscated five cars, five motorcycles, four quad‑bikes, a trailer and a truck, and uncovered a cache of firearms, ammunition and grenades. Ten people were detained during the operations, which were prompted by a report from a Guardia Nacional patrol that observed armed individuals and exotic wildlife in a ranch near Aquiles Serdán. The captured animals were placed under the custody of the Instituto Municipal de Conservación de Vida Silvestre, while the equines were transferred to the municipal mounted police.

In a separate but related crackdown, federal, state and municipal forces in Chalco (State of Mexico) raided a property where they found a male and female puma, an ocelot, a lion, a white‑tiger cub, two sacred baboons, two ring‑tailed lemurs and other species, all kept without legal permits. The owner of the property was arrested and the animals placed under temporary protection pending relocation. Both operations highlight an intensified effort by Mexican authorities to combat illegal wildlife trafficking and organized crime involving armed groups.