BROWNSVILLE, Texas — Customs officials in South Texas intercepted three live monkeys in a vehicle that were being transferred across the border from Mexico, authorities said.

According to a news release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the incident occurred on Dec. 22 at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge.

Officials said a 48-year-old male U.S. citizen attempted to enter the country in a 2020 Mitsubishi. CBP officials referred the vehicle for a secondary inspection, where officers discovered the monkeys hidden inside the vehicle.

Monkeys are prohibited from importation as pets, the CBP said in its news release.

Some of the species are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Their importation is regulated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In this case, Homeland Security Investigations initiated a criminal investigation, seized the vehicle, and arrested the driver. The monkeys were turned over to U.S. Fish and Wildlife and will be housed at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas.

“Our CBP officers remain vigilant as they perform their duties to keep our borders secure and their diligence led them to the discovery of three live monkeys,” Tater Ortiz, port director for the Brownsville Port of Entry, said in a statement. “We remain committed to preventing the exploitation of protected animals and the spread of animal diseases.”

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