Woman Arrested at Border After 69 Live Animals, Including Vipers and Caimans, Found in Hidden Car Compartment

A woman identified by federal prosecutors as a resident of Tijuana was taken into custody at the U.S.-Mexico border. The following day, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers made a startling discovery: 69 live animals, including venomous vipers, caimans, and a baby crocodile, allegedly stashed inside taped-shut pillowcases within a concealed compartment of her Volkswagen. This information comes from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.

Georgina Bribiesca Chavez, 66, also from Tijuana, was arrested on August 10 while attempting to enter the U.S. via the San Ysidro Port of Entry, according to the Justice Department. Chavez reportedly informed a CBP officer that she had nothing to declare. However, a subsequent records check revealed an active warrant linked to an ongoing wildlife trafficking investigation.

Discovery of Hidden Animals

CBP officials impounded the Volkswagen, but the animals were not found until the vehicle underwent a thorough inspection the subsequent morning. Behind the rear seat, officers located a hidden factory compartment. Inside, they discovered pillowcases that had been tightly knotted and sealed with tape.

One of the pillowcases was observed to be moving.

The bags were transported to the San Diego Zoo, where staff identified their contents: 60 abronia lizards, four venomous yellow-blotched palm pit vipers, three caimans, a baby crocodile, and an indigo snake, as reported by the Justice Department.

Prosecutors indicated that Chavez never disclosed the presence of the animals to officers, leaving them inside the vehicle for nearly 24 hours in the August heat. Tragically, all three caimans perished. The remaining animals were reported to be in stable condition and continued to receive care at the zoo as of the previous week.

Legal Proceedings and Broader Investigation

Chavez has entered a plea of not guilty to a federal wildlife trafficking charge and has been ordered held without bond. Her alleged co-conspirator, Salvador Pelayo, 28, of Chula Vista, was arrested in July and has also pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

These arrests stem from an approximately 18-month undercover investigation conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Prosecutors allege that Chavez and Pelayo had been involved in wildlife trafficking together since 2023, reportedly earning tens of thousands of dollars from the sale of exotic animals.

Past Trafficking Allegations

During one alleged undercover transaction in March 2025, Chavez reportedly delivered four protected Mexican box turtles to an agent, receiving $2,600 in cash, shortly after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Prosecutors stated that all four turtles later died after being transferred to the Oakland Zoo. These turtles were reportedly in poor health when acquired during the undercover operation and were believed to have been wild-caught and suffering from a respiratory disease.

Separately, Pelayo is accused of utilizing the alias