A man was apprehended while attempting to smuggle over 100 live snakes into mainland China by hiding them in his trousers, according to the country’s customs authority.
The unidentified traveler was intercepted by customs officers as he tried to move from semi-autonomous Hong Kong to Shenzhen. During the inspection, officers found that his trousers’ pockets contained six canvas drawstring bags, sealed with tape.
When the bags were opened, they revealed a variety of live snakes in different shapes, sizes, and colors. The authorities seized 104 snakes, including milk snakes and corn snakes, many of which were non-native species.
A video released by the customs authority showed two border agents examining the snakes in transparent plastic bags. China, a major hub for animal trafficking, has intensified its crackdown on the illegal trade in recent years. The country’s biosecurity and disease control laws prohibit the import of non-native species without proper authorization.
The customs authority stated that violators would face legal consequences, but did not specify the man’s punishment.