A Texas man has been sentenced for smuggling baby spider monkeys into California. Sarmad Ghaled Dafar, 33, was caught trafficking six young monkeys, too young to be away from their mothers. He received a four-month prison sentence and will spend another 180 days under home confinement.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uncovered Dafar’s illegal activities in 2023. They intercepted three baby Mexican spider monkeys at the border in Calexico, which were brought in by an associate of his. Following this, authorities searched Dafar’s phone and found evidence of his involvement in the smuggling operation.
In California, owning primates as pets is illegal, especially endangered species like spider monkeys. These young animals require constant care to survive, and separating them from their mothers poses serious risks to their health and well-being. U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon stated that this crime not only harms the monkeys but also disrupts ecosystems and poses public health risks.
Dafar’s plea agreement revealed that he was responsible for coordinating the trafficking, receiving the monkeys in the U.S., and arranging their sale. The three monkeys seized—named Chrissy, Jack, and Janet—were quarantined at the San Diego Zoo. As part of his sentence, Dafar must pay over $23,500 to cover their quarantine costs.
The monkeys are now permanently housed at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, alongside two other baby spider monkeys that were seized in a separate smuggling case. During the investigation, it was also discovered that Dafar had previously smuggled and sold three more baby spider monkeys in 2022 and 2023, but their current whereabouts remain unknown.
This case highlights the dangers of wildlife trafficking. Authorities emphasize that such crimes not only endanger animal species but also pose significant health risks to humans. Dafar’s actions were driven by the belief that baby monkeys were easier to hide than adults, as they are quieter and smaller.