Chinese customs announced on Tuesday the arrest of a man attempting to smuggle over 100 live snakes into mainland China by stuffing them in his trousers. The Chinese customs statement indicated that officials detained the unnamed traveler while he was trying to enter from Hong Kong, which enjoys semi-autonomous status, into the border city of Shenzhen.
The statement said, "During the inspection, customs officials discovered that the pockets of the passenger's trousers were stuffed with six fabric bags sealed with adhesive tape." It added, "Once each bag was opened, it was found to contain live snakes in various shapes, sizes, and colors."
According to the statement, officials confiscated 104 of the scaly reptiles, including milk snakes and corn snakes, many of which are of non-native species. A video showed two border guards staring at transparent plastic bags filled with red, pink, and white snakes.
China is one of the largest centers for animal smuggling in the world, but authorities have taken strict measures against illegal trade in recent years. The country’s biosecurity and disease control laws prohibit people from bringing non-native species without permission. The customs authority stated, "Those who violate the rules will be held accountable according to the law," without specifying the punishment for the man.
