A man attempting to smuggle over 100 live snakes into mainland China was apprehended by customs authorities, per CBS News.
The unnamed traveller was stopped by customs officers as he tried to move from semi-autonomous Hong Kong into Shenzhen, a border city in mainland China, according to a statement released by China Customs on Tuesday.
The customs inspection revealed that the man had packed six canvas drawstring bags, each sealed with tape, into the pockets of his trousers.
Upon opening these bags, officers discovered a variety of live snakes of different shapes, sizes, and colours.
“Once opened, each bag was found to contain living snakes in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and colours,” the customs statement noted.
The officers seized a total of 104 snakes, including milk snakes and corn snakes, many of which were non-native species.
A video accompanying the statement showed border agents examining transparent plastic bags filled with writhing red, pink, and white snakes.
China has long been one of the world’s largest hubs for animal trafficking. However, in recent years, authorities have intensified their efforts to combat the illicit trade.
The country’s biosecurity and disease control laws strictly prohibit the importation of non-native species without appropriate permission.
“Those who break the rules will be… held liable in accordance with the law,” the customs authority stated, though they did not specify the punishment the man would face.
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