Chinese customs officials say a man has been arrested after trying to smuggle more than 100 live snakes into mainland China with his trousers stuffed with them.
China Customs said in a statement on Tuesday that the traveller, whose name was not released, was stopped by customs officials as he tried to slip out of semi-autonomous Hong Kong and enter the border city of Shenzhen.
“Upon inspection, customs officers found six canvas drawstring bags stuffed in the pockets of the passenger’s trousers and sealed with tape,” the statement said.
“When opened, each bag contained live snakes of various shapes, sizes and colours,” he added.
Officers confiscated 104 reptiles, including milk snakes and corn snakes, many of which were exotic species, the statement said.
An accompanying video showed two border patrol officers peering into a clear plastic bag containing a wriggling red, pink and white snake.
China is one of the world’s biggest animal trafficking centres, but authorities have been cracking down on the illegal trade in recent years.
The country’s Biosecurity and Disease Control Act prohibits the introduction of non-native species without permission.
“Anyone who violates the rules will be held accountable in accordance with the law,” customs officials said, without revealing what punishment the man might face.
