Man Caught Smuggling 104 Live Snakes in His Pants at Futian Port

Chinese customs recently apprehended a man trying to cross the border with dozens of live snakes hidden in his pants. The smuggler was intercepted at Futian port, between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. “During the inspection, customs officials discovered that the passenger’s pant pockets were stuffed with six canvas bags tied shut and sealed with tape,” the Chinese customs service said. Customs found 104 live snakes “of various shapes, sizes, and colors,” the announcement said. The method was so extreme that even seasoned customs officers were taken aback. With help from herpetologists, officials identified five snake species in the smuggler’s stash, IFLScience reported: western rat snake, milk snake, Texas rat snake, bull snake, and corn snake. Most of these species are not typical for China. Authorities said the snakes were nonvenomous.

China has developed a notorious reputation as a hub for wildlife smuggling. This incident is a stark example of the illegal wildlife trade in the country, where transportation methods are becoming increasingly bizarre. Demand for smuggled wildlife in China is high. These animals are often imported for use in traditional medicine, kept as pets, or treated as investments.

Between 2010 and 2021, authorities recorded 192 cases of pangolin smuggling in China. Investigations turned up 74,500 dead pangolins, according to the China Environmental Investigation Agency.

In recent years, the country has tried to shed its image as a center for animal smuggling. In February 2020, China’s top legislative body announced a decision to “completely ban illegal wildlife trade and eliminate the consumption of wild animals for food to protect human life and health.” Species already protected received stronger safeguards, and the government promised tougher penalties for offenders caught smuggling animals. Despite international efforts to halt the smuggling and sale of endangered exotic animals, the industry is currently valued at $20 billion a year. It is increasingly linked to organized crime, armed violence, and environmental harm. The Zoological Society of London calls wildlife trafficking the fourth-largest illegal activity worldwide, after arms, drugs, and human trafficking.