ARIZONA NEWS

Phoenix police arrest man for allegedly trying to sell tiger cub

Jan 24, 2023, 2:27 PM | Updated: Feb 28, 2023, 11:51 am

Carlos Castro Alcaraz (Screenshot and Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Photo)...

Carlos Castro Alcaraz (Screenshot and Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Photo)

(Screenshot and Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Photo)

PHOENIX – A man was arrested in Phoenix for allegedly trying to sell a tiger cub through social media, authorities said Tuesday.

“It’s not every day that police officers come in contact with tigers in Arizona, but that’s exactly what happened,” Sgt. Brian Bower of the Phoenix Police Department told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

After learning Monday that the cub was being offered, officers contacted the seller posing as potential buyers. They gathered enough information to obtain a search warrant at a residence near Baseline Road and 27th Avenue, police said.

The tiger cub and other exotic animals, including baby snapping turtles and a baby alligator, were seized and turned over to the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

“All very small animals, nothing large, adult size,” Bower said.

Carlos Castro Alcaraz, 25, was arrested at the home and booked for import/release of wildlife, a felony, Bower said.

According to The Associated Press, Castro Alcaraz wanted to sell the tiger for $20,000.

“This was just an instance of great police work from the patrol officers’ level of seeing a possible crime,” Bower said.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Patricia Valencia contributed to this report.

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Phoenix police arrest man for allegedly trying to sell tiger cub