SAN DIEGO (AP) — A person who tried to slither previous U.S. border brokers in California had 52 lizards and snakes hidden in his clothes, authorities mentioned Tuesday.
The person was driving a truck when he arrived on the San Ysidro border crossing with Mexico on Feb. 25 and was pulled out for extra inspection, U.S. Customs and Border Safety mentioned in an announcement.
Brokers discovered 52 reside reptiles tied up in small luggage “which had been hid within the man’s jacket, pants pockets, and groin space,” the assertion mentioned.
9 snakes and 43 horned lizards had been seized. Among the species are thought of endangered, authorities mentioned.
“Smugglers will strive each doable technique to try to get their product, or on this case reside reptiles, throughout the border,” mentioned Sidney Aki, Customs and Border Safety director of area operations in San Diego. “On this event, the smuggler tried to deceive CBP officers with the intention to carry these animals into the US, with out taking look after the well being and security of the animals.”
The person, a 30-year-old U.S. citizen, was arrested.