GabyThe Chinese customs service recently apprehended a man attempting to cross the border with dozens of live snakes hidden in his pants. The resourceful smuggler was intercepted at the Futian port, located 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,” stated the Chinese customs service. Inside the bags, they found 104 live snakes “of various shapes, sizes, and colors,” according to the announcement. The method of transport was deemed so extreme that even seasoned customs officers were taken aback. With the help of herpetologists, they quickly identified five species of reptiles in the smuggler’s collection, as reported by IFLScience: including the western rat snake, as well as the milk snake, Texas rat snake, bull snake, and corn snake. Most of these species are not typical for China. Experts noted that the traveling snakes were non-venomous.
China has earned a notorious reputation over the years as a hub for wildlife smuggling. This recent incident is a stark example of the rampant illegal wildlife trade in the country, where the methods of transport are becoming increasingly bizarre. The demand for smuggled wildlife in China is alarmingly high. These animals are often imported for use in traditional medicine, as well as being considered pets or investments.
It’s worth recalling that between 2010 and 2021, there were 192 recorded cases of pangolin smuggling in the country. During the investigations of these crimes, law enforcement officials counted 74,500 dead pangolins, according to the China Environmental Investigation Agency.
However, in recent years, the country has been striving to shed its image as a center for animal smuggling. In February 2020, the country’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 that were already banned received enhanced protection, and the Chinese government promised that penalties for offenders caught smuggling animals would be stricter. Despite international efforts to halt the smuggling and sale of exotic animals that are endangered, this industry is currently valued at $20 billion a year. It is increasingly linked to organized crime, armed violence, and, of course, environmental damage. “Wildlife trafficking is the fourth largest illegal activity in the world, surpassed only by arms, drugs, and human trafficking,” noted the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
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