A couple has been caught smuggling monkeys in their underwear – with one primate suffocating to death.
The animals were strapped to the suspect’s crotch area.
The couple – a 27-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man from La Jagua de Ibirico in Colombia – were caught in the act at Cartagena’s Rafael Núñez International Airport on Tuesday (12 May).
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The suspects were attempting to board an international flight bound for the Dominican Republic.
The shocking discovery was made by Colombian National Police officers during routine security screenings.
Officials grew suspicious of the couple’s movements before conducting a physical search that revealed the exotic primates in their undies.
Inspectors uncovered two white-fronted capuchin monkeys (Cebus albifrons) and one red howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus) concealed within their underwear.
Wildlife officials confirmed that the baby red howler monkey suffocated to death during the smuggling attempt due to the extreme, restrictive conditions of its transport.
The two surviving capuchin primates were immediately seized and placed under the emergency care of the EPA Cartagena environmental authority for veterinary checks.
A police spokesperson said: “Thanks to control and prevention activities, the flagrante delicto capture was achieved of two Colombian nationals who intended to illegally transport three specimens of wildlife outside the country.”
The authorities said the animals have an estimated black-market value of over £5,100 (COP 26m).
Animal welfare groups condemned the incident as “aberrant”, highlighting the routine mistreatment of protected species for profit.
The suspects face criminal charges for the unlawful exploitation of natural resources and wildlife trafficking, as reported by Need To Know.
Under current Colombian environmental legislation, individuals convicted of wildlife smuggling can face up to 12 years in federal prison alongside a hefty fine.
The authorities are determining whether the couple belongs to a larger international network specialising in exotic pet trafficking.
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