Man arrested for smuggling over 100 stuffed snakes in pants from Hong Kong to China

A man has been arrested for trying to smuggle more than 100 live snakes from Hong Kong to mainland China by stuffing them into his pants.

The man, who has not been identified, was arrested after he passed through the “nothing to declare” gate at the border crossing between the semi-autonomous city and Shenzhen and customs officials found 104 snakes in six drawstring canvas bags in his trouser pockets.

The bags were closed and sealed with tape, the Chinese customs department said in a statement. “Each bag contained live snakes of all kinds of shapes, sizes and colors.”

Among the reptiles seized by customs on Tuesday were non-native species as well as milk snakes and corn snakes.

Under biosecurity and disease control laws, people are prohibited from introducing non-native species into China without permission.

“Those who violate the rules will be held accountable in accordance with the law,” the customs department said.

A video shared by authorities shows two officials examining plastic bags filled mostly with small snakes.

China is one of the world’s largest hubs for animal trafficking. Beijing has launched a crackdown on the illegal animal trade, but is struggling to contain it.

A 2020 investigation found that monkeys had been stolen from the wild and, along with cheetahs, tigers, rhinos, lions and meerkats, trafficked to circuses, theme parks, laboratories, zoos and “safari parks” in China.

In December 2023, a woman was arrested while trying to smuggle six live snakes in her trouser pockets at the same border crossing between China and Hong Kong.

The woman was arrested after attracting the attention of a customs officer by “appearing nervous and in a hurry” during baggage checks.

Customs officials noticed that his trouser pockets were overstuffed and a search uncovered socks containing two live snakes. The reptiles were confirmed to be ball pythons, a non-venomous snake native to West and Central Africa.

In August, a man was arrested at Futian Port in Shenzhen while trying to smuggle 14 live snakes stuffed in his pockets.

Officers reportedly noticed the passenger acting anxiously and avoiding eye contact. When they searched him, they discovered he was carrying 14 snakes wrapped in socks and stockings in his pants.