An Air India passenger was stopped from boarding a flight at Cochin International Airport after a live poisonous snake was spotted in his hand-luggage during security checks.
A senior security official said the snake appeared to be a baby Indian Krait, which is one of the four most venomous snakes in India.
The passenger, who was travelling to Abu Dhabi, was detained but released without charge as the authorities were convinced that he was unwittingly carrying the venomous snake, which was concealed in a pack of Chinese potatoes.
The man from Kerala, named only as Sunil, had bought the potatoes on his way to the airport.
