20-year-old U.S. woman found with four undeclared spider monkeys at Texas border, officials say

Border agents rounded out 2021 with a surprising discovery during an inspection at the Progreso International Bridge last week.

On Dec. 30, a woman was trying to get through customs when she was flagged for a secondary inspection. During the second search, agents found four undeclared spider monkeys hidden in a duffel bag, authorities said.

“While conducting their inspections, our officers will often encounter a myriad of prohibited agriculture products,” Walter Weaver, port director at the Port of Progreso, said in a written statement. “Sometimes these encounters yield hidden exotic animals, such as in this case.”

The woman, a 20-year-old U.S. citizen, was issued a penalty by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, officials said. Her name was not released.

Spider monkeys are native to South and Central America and are classified as an endangered species.

Authorities said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service helped identify the species, and the four monkeys were returned to Mexico.