Federal forces in Mexico have seized a tiger, a black panther and a lion along with guns, drugs, money and jewels during a series of raids on properties believed to belong to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Twenty suspected members of the drug cartel were also arrested in the operations across the regions of Hidalgo, Jalisco and Michoacán.
Exotic animals and weapons found on cartel property
According to a statement by Mexico's Security Cabinet, "A black panther, a tiger, a lion, cattle and pigs and 77 farm birds" were seized at a property in Jalisco, along with "113 vehicles, 10 firearms, magazines, cartridges, various doses of drugs, jewellery, cash, communication equipment, a drone and a drone jammer."
The head of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), Omar García Harfuch, described the raids as designed to "sustainably weaken the operational, logistical and financial capabilities of the cartels."
Cartel leaders and exotic animal ownership
It is not known exactly who was in possession of the trio of predators, although owning exotic animals is nothing new for cartel bosses. Colombian kingpin Pablo Escobar famously owned a wide range of non-native creatures including hippos and giraffes, while Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán reportedly maintained his own private zoo.
While the fate of the lion, tiger and black panther is not yet known, in previous similar instances, the Mexican state has been known to transfer seized exotic animals to an authorised wildlife-management facility, sanctuary or suitably equipped zoo for protection and long-term care.
Wider crackdown on drug gangs
The raids formed part of a wider effort to crack down on Mexico's drug gangs, including on the infamous Sinaloa cartel. In Sinaloa alone, Mexican police arrested 10 people and seized 23 guns, 11 smoke grenades, and 49 other explosive devices, along with huge quantities of drugs.
The suspected cartel members were also found to be in possession of tactical gear and radio communications devices normally associated with the military. In the state of Chihuahua, federal forces arrested a man for human trafficking, freeing 17 migrants, including two minors.
