A man was caught trying to smuggle 250 poisonous snakes on to a plane in Argentina after the creatures were spotted on the X-ray scanner.
Karel Abelovsky, 51 from the Czech Republic was en route to Spain with Iberia when airport officials made him open his bag at Buenos Aires’ airport.
The snakes and endangered reptiles were in plastic containers, bags and even socks and were labelled with their Latin name, reports the Telegraph.
Authorities believe Abelovsky was a courier for a criminal organization that smuggles exotic species whose exports are banned.
Judge Marcelo Aguinsky believes the boa constrictors, poisonous pit vipers and coral snakes, lizards and spiders could have escaped the cloth suitcase in the unpressurized cabin and attacked people there or at his final destination in Prague.
Abelovsky was released on about $2,500 bail after surrendering his passport and is refusing to talk even though he faces up to 10 years in prison.
By Diane Evans
