18 Titi Monkeys Lead to Airport Arrest of Alleged Monkey Smuggler

By: Naimah Jabali-Nash
Topics: Daily Blotter

Titi Monkey (Udo Schroter)

MEXICO CITY (CBS/AP) A man with a peculiar bulge under his T-shirt was stopped and searched at Mexico City's international airport after he became "markedly nervous" when authorities asked what he was carrying.

What was he hiding?

Eighteen little endangered titi monkeys, according to authorities.

Authorities detained 38-year-old Roberto Cabrera when they say they found 18 titi monkeys stuffed in pouches attached to a girdle he was wearing - two of the monkeys were dead.

According to the Public Safety Department, Cabrera arrived on a flight from Lima, Peru Friday carrying the contraband critters. He claimed he had bought the 6-inch monkeys he called "pets" for $30, according to CNN. But, unfortunately for Cabrera his "pets" require a permit to own and are a protected endangered species.

He told authorities that he was previously carrying the monkeys in suitcase, but opted to put the monkeys in his girdle "so the X-rays wouldn't hurt them."

Police weren't convinced by his effort at improving the animals' safety. Cabrera was arrested and charged with trafficking an endangered species.

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