A man was caught trying to smuggle over 100 live snakes into mainland China by hiding them in his trousers. The incident occurred as the unnamed traveler attempted to cross from semi-autonomous Hong Kong into the border city of Shenzhen. According to a statement released by China Customs on Tuesday, customs officers stopped the man and discovered six canvas drawstring bags filled with snakes, sealed with tape, inside his trousers’ pockets.
Upon opening the bags, officers found a variety of snakes, including milk snakes and corn snakes, in different shapes, sizes, and colors. A total of 104 reptiles were seized, many of which were non-native species. An accompanying video showed two border agents examining transparent plastic bags filled with writhing snakes in shades of red, pink, and white.
China is recognized as one of the world’s largest hubs for animal trafficking. However, authorities have stepped up efforts to combat this illegal trade in recent years. The country’s biosecurity and disease control laws prohibit the importation of non-native species without proper authorization. The customs authority stated that those who violate these regulations will face legal consequences, but the specific punishment for the man in this case was not disclosed.
