Man Arrested For Allegedly Trying Sell Tiger Cub On Social Media

PHOENIX, AZ – A man who police say was in illegal possession of a tiger cub and tried to sell the animal has been arrested.

Phoenix Police say 25-year-old Carlos Eduardo Castro Alcaraz was arrested on Jan. 23. An investigation began after officers received a tip that Alcaraz was trying to sell a baby tiger on social medias for $25,000. Detectives reportedly posed as buyers, and negotiated a price of $20,000.

The tiger was recovered as officers served a search warrant at a home near 27th Avenue and Baseline Road. “When they were doing that search warrant, you could hear the tiger in the background moaning. You could hear that something wasn’t right,” said Sgt. Brian Bower with the Phoenix Police Department. “The tiger, specifically, was in a very small cage. Kind of a cage that you would find as a dog kennel. Approximately 2/3 feet.” Inside the home, officers also found several other animals, including baby snapping turtles and a baby American alligator in a small aquarium.