Mexican traveler seized with 37 venomous snakes and 55 lizards at Cologne Bonn Airport

A 45‑year‑old Mexican firefighter was stopped at Cologne Bonn Airport after customs officials found 37 live venomous snakes and 55 lizards in his suitcase, and he tested positive for cocaine although no drugs were discovered in his luggage; he was denied entry to Germany and flown back to Istanbul.

Customs described the reptiles as being kept in inhuman conditions and said about 30 of the animals died during or after the journey from Mexico City via Istanbul; the surviving snakes and lizards were transferred to a snake farm in central Germany.