Bogotá authorities confiscated 130 poison dart frogs on Monday, intended for trafficking from the Colombian capital’s airport to Sao Paulo. A Brazilian woman, found with the endangered frogs in a suitcase, was arrested in connection with the incident.
The poison dart frogs, scientifically known as oophaga histrionica or harlequin frogs, originated from the Nariño department in southwest Colombia. The Brazilian citizen claimed the frogs were a gift from a local community, as revealed in a video shared with the media by Adriana Soto, Bogotá’s Secretary of Environment.
The arrest was made under charges of wildlife trafficking, and the suspect has been handed over to the prosecution for further legal proceedings.
The vibrant amphibians, measuring less than five centimeters, were concealed in containers resembling photographic film rolls within the suitcase. The frogs, residing in the humid Pacific forests between Ecuador and Colombia, are endangered and sought after in international markets.
Juan Carlos Arévalo, the police commander in Bogotá, highlighted the high demand for these endangered species in international collector circles. Private collectors are willing to pay up to $1,000 for each harlequin frog.
The arrested individual was traveling from Bogotá to Sao Paulo, with a layover in Panama City. Colombia, renowned for its rich biodiversity, faces challenges due to the illegal trade of species, particularly amphibians, small mammals, and marine animal parts such as sharks.