Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News

Video Credit: CEN/@FGRMexico

African Lions, a python and an endangered eagle were among the animals seized by authorities in a raid on a Mexican nightclub near the US border.

Federal authorities seized what local media have called a “zoo” of exotic animals along with weapons, drug and cartridges in a nightclub in the city of Mexicali, in the northwestern Mexican state of Baja California, near the border with the United States.

Prosecutors said they had received an anonymous report that exotic animals were being illegally kept in the nightclub located in the centre of the nightlife area of the city.

Police went to the scene and reportedly found two African lions (Panthera leo), an endangered eagle and a python. The species of the eagle and python were not reported.

A press statement from the prosecution said: “Members of the general prosecution in Baja California seized weapons, drugs and exotic animals after following a raid order given by the judge of the district specialised in penal justice carried out at a premises working as a nightclub.

“According to the investigation, we received an anonymous report saying that exotic animals were present at the premises on Aviacion Street, in the city of Mexicali.”

Officers also seized two handguns, 50 cartridges, a bag with a substance similar to cocaine, and a bag with substance similar to the methamphetamine.

Prosecutors confirmed that three people who were in the area at the time of the raid were arrested.

The press statement read: “What was seized . . . was handed over to the agents of the federal public ministry.”

The investigation is ongoing.