"Suspicious Bulging Pants"... Body Search Reveals 100 Snakes Spill Out

Attempted Snake Smuggling Popular Among Chinese Animal Lovers
Chinese Authorities Strengthen Crackdown on Illegal Animal Smuggling and Trade

A Chinese man attempting to cross the border while hiding 100 live snakes in his pants was caught.

A traveler was caught by Chinese customs while trying to smuggle 104 live snakes inside his pants. [Image source=Captured from China Guangming Online]

On the 10th (local time), foreign media including the British Guardian reported that Chinese customs authorities issued a statement the previous day, saying, "Male traveler Mr. A tried to smuggle over 100 live snakes hidden in his pants but was stopped by customs officers." Mr. A was caught by customs authorities in Fujian Province while heading to Shenzhen, a border city in China, after leaving Hong Kong.

At the time, Mr. A had tied six canvas bags made of cotton inside his pants with strings to secure them, placing snakes in each bag. He then sealed the openings with tape. There were a total of 104 snakes, most of which were exotic species, including milk snakes, hog-nosed snakes, and corn snakes of various sizes and colors. These species are known to be popular among animal enthusiasts in China, with corn snakes, native to the southeastern United States, especially gaining popularity due to their beautiful orange coloration.

Chinese customs also released images of the snakes confiscated at the scene. Additionally, they shared part of surveillance footage showing Mr. A calmly walking while hiding the snakes inside his pants.

Meanwhile, China is the world's largest hub for animal smuggling, but authorities have strengthened crackdowns on illegal trade in recent years. Like other countries, Chinese customs conducts quarantine inspections on animals imported from overseas to prevent ecological damage and foreign infectious diseases before deciding on clearance. According to local biosafety laws and the quarantine laws for animals and plants at entry and exit, bringing exotic species or live animals into mainland China without official permission is illegal. However, the level of punishment for this case has not been disclosed.