Customs apprehend man trying to smuggle 100 live snakes
A Chinese has been apprehended trying to smuggle over 100 live snakes into mainland China by cramming them inside his trousers.
According to the country’s customs authority, the un-named traveller was stopped by customs officers as he sought to slip out of semi-autonomous Hong Kong and into the border city of Shenzhen.
In a statement on Tuesday, Chinese Customs said, “Upon inspection, it was discovered that the pockets of the trousers the passenger was wearing were packed with six canvas drawstring bags and sealed with tape.
“Once opened, each bag was found to contain living snakes in all kinds of shapes, sizes and colours.
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The statement said officers seized 104 of the scaly reptiles, including milk snakes and corn snakes, many of which were non-native species.
An accompanying video showed two border agents peering into transparent plastic bags filled with squirming red, pink and white snakes.
China is one of the world’s biggest animal trafficking hubs, but authorities have cracked down on the illicit trade in recent years, AFP learned.
The country’s biosecurity and disease control laws forbid people from bringing in non-native species without permission.
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“Those who break the rules will be held liable in accordance with the law,” the customs authority said, without specifying the man’s punishment.
Proofreading, editing by Gift Luckson and Hafsat Aleeyu Muye, Journalist and Editor at Neptune Prime.
