Authorities arrested Juan “N” in Mexico City for the December 9, 2024 theft of 40 endangered casquito turtles—an important victory against Puerto Vallarta turtle trafficking.
Federal agents arrested Juan “N” in Mexico City for his alleged role in the December 2024 theft of 40 casquito turtles (Kinosternon vogti) from Puerto Vallarta. The capture follows a coordinated operation by the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) and the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) under its Special Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime (FEMDO) and the Special Prosecutor’s Office for the Investigation of Trafficking in Minors, Persons and Organs, and Against Biodiversity (FEITPOC).
Profepa and the FGR worked in tandem to execute an arrest warrant issued for crimes against biodiversity. According to Profepa, agents detained Juan “N” on May 26 in Mexico City and immediately placed him at the disposal of the competent judicial authority. The FGR will lead the formal accusations under Chapter Two (Against Biodiversity) of the Federal Penal Code.
The suspect is accused of participating in the targeted removal of 40 casquito turtles on December 9, 2024, at the University of Guadalajara’s Centro Universitario de la Costa (CUCOSTA) facility in Puerto Vallarta. Profepa investigators say the turtles were taken from their protected holding areas and transported offsite without authorization, depriving conservation programs of critical research specimens.
The casquito turtle, Kinosternon vogti, is a microendemic species found only along the Pacific coast of Jalisco and Nayarit. Adults measure roughly 7.5 to 9.5 cm in shell length and display a distinctive yellow spot on their heads. Habitat loss from coastal development and illegal collection for the exotic pet trade place the species at high risk.
This turtle is listed under NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010, Mexico’s official standard that catalogs species at risk—ranging from extinct to threatened to subject to special protection. Once a species is listed under this standard, the General Wildlife Act and associated federal regulations prohibit its capture, transport, or trade without a permit; violations can carry fines and imprisonment.
Mariana Boy Tamborrell, Attorney General of Profepa, emphasized the ongoing effort: “Profepa will continue to coordinate with the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) and other institutions to curb illegal wildlife trafficking, a crime that seriously affects our biodiversity.”
