Agents from the Attorney General’s Office of the Republic (FGR) launched an investigation against those who may be responsible for the possible commission of a health-related crime after six cactus plants of the peyote species were seized at a parcel delivery company in Hermosillo, Sonora.
According to the investigation, which began after an anonymous report, the Specialized Regional Control Prosecutor’s Office was informed about the presence of legally protected species inside cardboard boxes from a shipment at a parcel company. The shipment contained cactus plants associated with the traditional medicine of the Wixárika (Huichol) Indigenous people, although they are also commonly known for their use as a psychoactive substance.
To clarify the reported events, members of the Federal Ministerial Police (PFM) from the Criminal Investigation Agency (AIC) went to the parcel company. With the support of the canine unit ABBY KN369, authorities were able to seize six peyote cacti that were hidden inside a cardboard box.
The plants originated from Torreón, Coahuila, and were being shipped to Rosarito, Baja California. However, these cacti are native to areas such as the Chihuahuan Desert and the Potosí Plateau.
The seized plants were placed under the custody of the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF), which will continue the corresponding investigation to determine responsibilities.
Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) is a native Mexican species protected by law. It is listed under special protection in the Mexican Official Standard NOM-059-SEMARNAT and regulated by the General Wildlife Law, due to factors such as illegal harvesting, its slow growth rate, and its high cultural and biological value for Indigenous communities.
Source: excelsior
