Man tries to smuggle boa snake in his pants at airport

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Man tries to smuggle boa snake in his pants at airport

The man was arrested for smuggling the reptile and is awaiting sentencing.

By Web Report

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Published: Thu 17 Jan 2019, 10:37 AM

Last updated: Thu 17 Jan 2019, 1:52 PM

A 43-year-old man was caught smuggling a boa snake at Germany's Berlin Schönefeld airport just before boarding a flight.
The man was hiding the snake in his undergarment and attempting to pass through customs when officials found him suspicious.

The security staff called border police who searched the man and a small fabric bag containing the snake was found hidden in his pants. The man was unable to show any credible documentation for carrying the 40cm long boa snake, according to reports in The Independent.

The snake was confiscated by security officials and was transported to rescue centre in Brandenburg/Havel. While the man was arrested for smuggling the reptile and is  awaiting sentencing.

This is not the first time a passenger has tried to smuggle snake, in July 2018 a woman flying from Miami International Airport hid a python in a nylon stocking and concealed it in an external hard drive which she carried in her hand luggage. She was caught after staff from the Transportation Security Administration found a  large "organic mass" while screening her hand luggage.
In September 2018, a man travelling through Düsseldorf Airport to Moscow was found with 20 snakes in his carry-on bag. Besides snakes, airport officials have discovered monkeys, cats and birds being carried illegally in 2018.
Although there are no restrictions on carrying pet rodents, rabbits, birds, invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles to the UK from other EU countries, they must be quarantined prior to their arrival in the UK.
It is mandatory for travellers to carry correct documentation while transporting animals as special rules apply to animals that are not native to the UK. Passengers seeking to transport animals internationally should follow government guidelines to avoid any hassle at the airport.


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