# Latin America wildlife trafficking crackdown continues > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/latin-american-wildlife-trafficking-enforcement > Updated: 2026-08-25T23:26:03.000Z. Sources: 90. Developments: 21. Since May 2026, a coordinated crackdown across Latin America has targeted illegal wildlife trade and related environmental violations. In Mexico, raids in Campeche, Chihuahua, Michoacán, Quintana Roo, Zapopan and other states seized dozens of exotic animals—including tigers, jaguars, pumas, lions, ocelots, parrots, crocodiles and a ball python—and rescued parrots, tortoises and sea‑turtle eggs. Colombia and Ecuador launched a regional “Ruta de Atención a los Delitos contra la Biodiversidad,” rescuing marine iguanas and seizing shells and corals. In August, Profepa agents in Coahuila seized 17 exotic animals, including a dromedary, llamas, an ostrich, iguanas, and yellow‑headed orioles, from a facility operating without permits. In Guerrero, authorities recovered 20 olive‑ridley sea turtle eggs for incubation. Profepa also addressed environmental contamination by completing heavy‑metal sampling in the Sonora River basin and ordering remediation and fines for Ferromex following a toxic spill in Naco, Sonora. Recent operations have intensified the focus on protected species. In Mexico City, authorities arrested José Luis “N” for the illegal transport of a four-month-old female white Bengal tiger cub near the Central de Abasto. The cub, which lacked identification markings and legal documentation, was transferred to the Fundación Invictus rescue center for medical evaluation and quarantine. In a separate operation in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, a joint effort by Profepa, the Army, and the National Guard resulted in the seizure of a 250-kilogram male Bengal tiger and a swamp crocodile at a car wash. Both animals are protected under CITES. To combat the illegal pet trade, Profepa launched the “Los Monos No son Mascotas” (Monkeys are Not Pets) campaign. This initiative targets the illegal trafficking of spider, howler, and capuchin monkeys, all of which are endangered under Mexican law. Authorities noted that for every monkey sold as a pet, at least three others die during capture or transport. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-25: Profepa launches campaign against illegal primate trafficking in Mexico Mexico's Profepa launched a campaign against the illegal primate trade, warning that possession of endangered monkeys can lead to nine years in prison. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/profepa-launches-campaign-against-illegal-primate-trafficking-in-mexico ### 2026-08-22: Profepa seizes endangered parrots in San Luis Potosí Profepa seized two endangered parrots, a lilac-crowned and a yellow-cheeked parrot, from a home in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, following a citizen report. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/profepa-seizes-endangered-parrots-in-san-luis-potos ### 2026-08-19: Border agents seize 69 live animals hidden in car compartment Authorities seized 69 live animals, including venomous vipers and a crocodile, hidden in a car compartment at the U.S.-Mexico border. A Tijuana resident faces federal wildlife trafficking charges. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/border-agents-seize-69-live-animals-hidden-in-car-compartment ### 2026-08-15: Mexico authorities seize Bengal tigers in separate operations Mexican authorities seized a Bengal tiger cub in Mexico City and a mature Bengal tiger and crocodile in Ciudad Juárez during recent wildlife protection operations. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexico-authorities-seize-bengal-tigers-in-separate-operations ### 2026-08-14: White tiger cub transferred to rescue center in Mexico City A five-month-old white Bengal tiger cub found in a vehicle in Mexico City has been moved to a specialized rescue center for quarantine and medical care as authorities investigate its origin. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/white-tiger-cub-transferred-to-rescue-center-in-mexico-city ### 2026-08-12: Mexico City police arrest man transporting white Bengal tiger cub A man was arrested in Mexico City's Iztapalapa borough after being caught transporting an endangered four-month-old white Bengal tiger cub in his vehicle without legal permits. 15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/authorities-intercept-illegal-wildlife-smuggling-in-mexico-and-japan ### 2026-08-04: Mexico's Profepa seizes wildlife, orders toxic spill cleanup Profepa seized exotic animals in Coahuila, rescued turtle eggs in Guerrero, sampled Sonora River for heavy metals, and ordered cleanup of a toxic spill in Naco. 14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexican-environmental-agency-seizes-17-exotic-animals-in-coahuila ### 2026-07-27: Mexico's Profepa Seizes Illegal Python and Tarantulas in Wildlife Trafficking Crackdown Mexico's Profepa seized a four‑meter Burmese python from a Zacatecas circus and confiscated 59 tarantulas and queen ants in San Luis Potosí, launching investigations into illegal wildlife trafficking. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexicos-profepa-seizes-illegal-python-and-tarantulas-in-wildlife-trafficking-crackdown ### 2026-07-26: Mexico seizes illegal wildlife, including jaguar, tiger and lions, in San Luis Potosí raid Mexican federal prosecutors seized five wild animals, including a jaguar, tiger and lions, and four taxidermies in San Luis Potosí, launching a biodiversity crime investigation. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexico-seizes-illegal-wildlife-including-jaguar-tiger-and-lions-in-san-luis-potos-raid ### 2026-07-10: Tiger Kenzo killed by gunshot during capture in State of Mexico Kenzo, a Bengal tiger that escaped in the State of Mexico, was shot during a capture operation; necropsy shows death from blood inhalation caused by a head wound. 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/unam-report-says-gunshot-killed-escaped-bengal-tiger-kenzo-in-mexico ### 2026-07-06: Kenzo the white Bengal tiger killed after police shooting in Mexico Kenzo, a white Bengal tiger, escaped a Mexican facility, was shot by police after a failed capture, and died; a necropsy will determine the exact cause amid controversy over wildlife protocols. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kenzo-the-white-bengal-tiger-killed-after-police-shooting-in-mexico ### 2026-07-01: Kenzo the Bengal tiger dies after failed capture operation in Mexico Kenzo the Bengal tiger escaped from a Mexican facility, was pursued for five days, and died after security forces shot it during capture; PROFEPA closed the site and ordered a UNAM necropsy. 20 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kenzo-the-white-tiger-captured-after-fiveday-escape-in-mexicos-state-of-mexico ### 2026-06-30: Mexico cracks down on illegal exotic wildlife, seizing lions, jaguar and tiger while hunting escaped tiger Mexico seized lions, a jaguar and a tiger in a raid on illegal wildlife holdings and launched a hunt for an escaped tiger in the State of Mexico. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexico-cracks-down-on-illegal-exotic-wildlife-seizing-lions-jaguar-and-tiger-while-hunting-escaped-t ### 2026-06-28: Mexican federal raids seize exotic tigers, ocelot, lince and 32 horses Federal raids in Durango seized three Bengal tigers, an ocelot, a lince, 32 horses, weapons and arrested ten people; a related Chalco raid uncovered additional exotic animals and a suspect. 20 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexican-authorities-respond-to-tiger-escape-in-state-of-mexico-and-seize-big-cats-in-durango ### 2026-06-13: Colombia returns over a ton of seized marine wildlife to Caribbean reefs Colombia seized over 1 ton of illegal marine souvenirs at El Dorado airport and is returning them to Caribbean reefs with LATAM, CORALINA and Conservation International to aid restoration. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombia-returns-over-a-ton-of-seized-marine-wildlife-to-caribbean-reefs ### 2026-06-11: Colombian agencies rescue and release wildlife in Cundinamarca, Huila Colombian environmental agencies rescued tortoises, a macaw and parrots in Guaduas and released nine wildlife species in Huila, urging public reporting of illegal captivity. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombian-agencies-rescue-and-release-wildlife-in-cundinamarca-huila ### 2026-06-10: Mexican authorities rescue jaguars, puma and Bengal tiger from illegal captivity Mexican authorities rescued dozens of endangered wildlife, including jaguars, a puma and a Bengal tiger, from illegal captivity in Quintana Roo and Zapopan. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexican-authorities-rescue-jaguars-puma-and-bengal-tiger-from-illegal-captivity ### 2026-06-05: Jaguar cub rescued in Michoacán, woman detained for illegal possession Michoacán authorities rescued a jaguar cub in Zitácuaro, detained the driver for lacking permits, and sent the animal to Morelia Zoo amid a wildlife‑trafficking probe. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/jaguar-cub-rescued-in-michoacn-woman-detained-for-illegal-possession ### 2026-06-03: Mexico seizes two Bengal tigers in Chihuahua raid Mexico’s environmental and federal prosecutors seized an adult male and female Bengal tiger during a raid in Nonoava, Chihuahua, and moved them to a wildlife facility while probing their illegal possession. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexico-seizes-two-bengal-tigers-in-chihuahua-raid ### 2026-05-31: Colombia and Ecuador Strengthen Legal and Veterinary Measures Against Wildlife Trafficking Colombia introduced a coordinated legal route to combat wildlife trafficking, while Ecuador returned ten rescued marine iguanas to the Galápagos after a trafficking case, combining judicial and veterinary steps 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombia-and-ecuador-strengthen-legal-and-veterinary-measures-against-wildlife-trafficking ### 2026-05-14: Mexico, Guatemala authorities rescue animals, bust wildlife trafficking Mexican and Guatemalan officials rescued animals and arrested traffickers in recent wildlife‑crime busts. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexico-guatemala-authorities-rescue-animals-bust-wildlife-trafficking --- Cite as: Latin America wildlife trafficking crackdown continues. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/latin-american-wildlife-trafficking-enforcement