Wildlife trafficking is the second largest black market in the world. A 20-year-old man tried to smuggle three lizards and two snakes but was arrested at Israel’s Ben-Gurion airport. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development made public the photos and videos of the incident. The man wrapped the animals in tin foil and put them in a food box to pass them off as a snack.
The man was arrested when he was returning from Hungary. The video shows customs inspectors at an Israeli airport searching the man’s packages, finding snakes and lizards hidden inside a lunch box and a pair of socks. The name of the accused has not been disclosed. Passengers hid the animals in plastic containers in empty snack bags and tin foil to make them look like in-flight lunches.
A statement from Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said the rescue “was carried out thanks to cooperation between Ministry of Agriculture inspectors, the Customs Director, the Nature and Parks Authority and the Border Guard.”
Local media say the man was on a flight back to Israel from Hungary and was arrested several days ago and faces up to two years in prison. Officials say the smuggled animals will be sent back to their country of origin.
Meanwhile, in October last year, 140 exotic wildlife species were rescued in Mizoram, including an albino wallaby. According to police sources, the exotic animals were smuggled from neighboring Myanmar and smugglers from both countries were involved.
