In the News - July 21, 2010
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Man Arrested at Airport for Smuggling 18 Tities
As originally reported by CNN
(LHN) -- Mexican authorities searching a man with a bulge under his shirt at the airport in the nation's capital found 18 monkeys hidden beneath his clothes, police said.
Investigators grew suspicious after Roberto Sol Cabrera Zavaleta, 38, became "markedly nervous" when asked what he was transporting, Mexico's Public Safety Department said.
In an interview with authorities released by police, Cabrera said he first carried the monkeys in his suitcase, but then hid the animals in his clothes so they would not be harmed by X-ray machines at the airport.
Cabrera described the animals as "pets" and told authorities he had purchased them for $30.
Titi monkeys are protected endangered species requiring a permit for possession, police said.
Two of the tiny Titi monkeys he was carrying in a belt were dead, the department said in a statement, and 16 of them survived the journey from Lima, Peru.
Cabrera has been detained as authorities continue their investigation, the statement said. However, someone closely involved with the case has stated that the investigation has been hampered by the unusual nature of the crime, the broken English of the suspect and the ironic name of the monkey species, all of which have contributed to a line of questioning that has not always been productive.
What follows is a transcript of some of the interrogation, gathered by a hidden microphone.
Officer: “Roberto, we noticed you immediately for as we stated earlier you were “markedly
nervous” when you were going through customs. Can you tell us why?”
Roberto: “Of course. I was worried. I knew that two of my tities were not doing well.”
(murmuring and muffled coughing,)
Officer: “(undecipherable)….ahem…right…of course. And you state that you were concerned
about your tities getting exposed to unnecessary radiation the result of the X-ray
machines?”
Roberto: “Certainly! I would want nothing of mine to be exposed to those harmful rays,
particularly something as delicate and fragile as my tities”
(louder muffled coughing and undecipherable sounds of labored breathing)
Officer: “…Right…(cough)…of course. So that is why you carried them with you?”
Roberto: “Si..yes. I also need them to be warm, which is why I was wearing such heavy
clothes. Tities do not like the cold and I did not want anyone to notice them. They
are very obvious when they are cold.”
Officer: “ (seems to be crying) …soooo….please excuse me…ahem…
AHEM!....ahhhhhhhh…….SO!...So, as you said before you like to think of these as
your pets?”
Roberto: “Si…I mean…yes.”
Officer: “And…(cough)…would you consider your actions here the actions of a good pet
owner?”
Roberto: “Si, si. Oh, yes, I would! Most tities that are found in Peru fall into the wrong hands
and are terribly mistreated! I love my tities and they know it! I hold them and
carress them. Sometimes I even kiss them! They know that I love them!”
(Overwhelmingly loud, undecipherable noises by what sounds like many people coughing and groaning. Horrible, howling sounds of pain/laughter??? Sound of something heavy hitting the
floor. Someone is asked if he/she is okay)
The interrogation went on for a total of 3 hours and appeared to be a brutal affair as many of the officers that came out from the room were visibly shaken and often crying – all of them waving away reporters and saying “I just can’t talk about it.”
