An operation by Colombia’s National Police at Rafael Núñez International Airport led to the arrest of a 27-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man, both with identities withheld and originally from La Jagua de Ibirico.
The suspects were trying to travel to the Dominican Republic with three wild animals hidden in their underwear near their genital areas. During the inspection, officers found two live capuchin monkeys and a baby red howler monkey that unfortunately died of asphyxiation due to the confinement.
The environmental authority EPA Cartagena took custody of the survivors while the detainees face sentences of up to 12 years for trafficking protected species.