Mainland China customs seizes more than 100 snakes from man at Hong Kong-Shenzhen border. Photo: HandoutA man was attempting to cross the border from Hong Kong into Shenzhen when customs officials in mainland China found over 100 live snakes hidden in his trousers.
The unidentified man was intercepted at the Futian port in Shenzhen earlier this week while attempting to enter the mainland through the green “Nothing to Declare Channel”.
“Upon inspection, customs officers found that the pockets of his trousers ... contained six canvas drawstring bags that were sealed with tape,” the General Administration of Customs said on social media platform Weibo.
“Each bag contained multiple live snakes of various colours and shapes.”
The spokesman added that a total of 104 serpents were seized, comprising five species – milk snake, western hognose snake, corn snake, pilot black snake and bull snake. All five species are not native to China, and the western hognose snake is considered mildly venomous.
An accompanying video released by the administration also showed customs officers inspecting six transparent plastic bags filled with red, pink and white squiggling snakes, often sought out as exotic pets.
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China is the world’s largest destination for illegal wildlife trafficking despite efforts to crack down on the trade, according to the Global Organized Crime Index.
The index also identified Hong Kong as a major transit hub for re-exporters in the illegal wildlife trade, citing the city’s “weak traceability systems”.
The administration said introducing any alien animal or plant species without approval was prohibited, and customs would hold anyone breaching the regulations criminally liable under the law. Offenders may be punished with a maximum three-year jail term or a fine ranging from 50,000 yuan (US$6,870) to 250,000 yuan, with the animal or plant confiscated.
In April, officers at the same border-crossing point stopped a man for trying to smuggle nine live ornamental fish into Shenzhen.
On September 3 last year, a woman was caught hiding 16 live lizards under her bra while attempting to enter Shenzhen.
Days later, another female traveller was stopped after officers discovered 20 animals, including 15 snakes and four centipedes hidden under her clothes, tied to her waist and chest.
Another woman was caught in July last year trying to smuggle five pet snakes hidden under her bra.