Presidio
Six smuggled horses were recovered by Presidio County Sheriff’s Deputies during a traffic stop on May 27. The sheriff’s department did not confirm if anyone was arrested or charged.
One cannot simply load up horses and take them on a joyride throughout Texas. According to the state agricultural code, anyone driving on a highway must have a permit signed by the owner or caretaker of the animals, a point of destination, and a written description including breed and brand. Horses also require a negative Coggins test that proves that they are not a carrier for Equine Infectious Anemia. Failure to have the proper paperwork can result in immediate seizure of the animals.
According to a statement by the Presidio County Sheriff’s Department on Facebook, the horses were recovered on FM170. They allegedly came from Redford, an area that deputies cite as a crossing for illegal livestock.
Horses have been used by smugglers for years, as the animals can navigate the rough terrain more easily than vehicles. Horses themselves are sometimes smuggled into the U.S. to avoid the seven-day quarantine requirement. Smuggling livestock is a federal crime that can result in up to 20 years in prison.
The horses were turned over to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for quarantine over concerns about New World screwworm. The parasitic fly was eradicated in the United States in the 1960s but has recently surged in Mexico and Central America, causing concern among border ranching communities.