Mexican drug cartels are known for smuggling humans across the southern border, but another profitable crime has emerged in recent years: wildlife trafficking.
In March, Texas authorities arrested a 29-year-old Mexican man for attempting to enter the U.S. with two live howler monkeys in his pickup truck. Shortly after, a woman was caught trying to smuggle 21 parrots and a keel-billed toucan into California.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), illegal wildlife trafficking has become the fourth largest funding source for criminal organizations, generating around $23 billion annually. This has pushed many species to the brink of extinction, as noted by INTERPOL.
The illegal wildlife trade has flourished with the help of online marketplaces and social media, making it easier for consumers to purchase wild animals on the black market, often entering through U.S. ports of entry.
Between 2018 and 2021, wildlife trafficking increased over 150%, according to a Moody’s Analytics report, leading to corruption and profit for organized criminal groups. Cartels have been trading wildlife for chemicals used in the production of illicit substances like fentanyl.
Latin America’s rich biodiversity makes it a prime target for wildlife trafficking, with some animals fetching high prices in the U.S. To combat this issue, the DHS established a Wildlife and Environmental Crimes Unit in 2023, focusing on enforcing anti-trafficking laws.
Efforts have also been made to aid rescued animals, such as the Wildlife Confiscations Network in Southern California. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) partnered with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to facilitate housing for confiscated animals.
Better wildlife screening tools are needed to combat the trade further, with wildlife detection dogs becoming more common for sniffing out smuggled animals. Addressing the illegal animal trade could prove critical in the fight against Mexican drug cartels, protecting endangered species, and mitigating threats to human health posed by disease transmission.
