Customs finds 92 live reptiles in Mexican passenger's suitcase at Cologne/Bonn
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Customs officers at Cologne/Bonn airport discovered 37 venomous snakes and 55 lizards hidden in a suitcase belonging to a 45‑year‑old Mexican passenger.
The passenger’s hands tested positive for cocaine, though no drugs were found in the luggage, and the reptiles were concealed in shampoo bottles, cream containers, plastic containers and socks. He said the animals were intended for a Brazilian acquaintance. A veterinarian arranged care for the surviving reptiles at a specialized snake farm in Braunschweig, while some died during transport without water and food. Federal Police denied the passenger entry and returned him to Istanbul the following morning, and the Customs Investigation Office in Essen opened an investigation.