Zhuhai’s Gongbei Customs announced in a statement on Friday night that a man attempted to smuggle four live lizards and 13 live snakes, including two highly venomous ones, from Macau to the Chinese mainland via the Gongbei checkpoint early last month.
The statement identified the smuggler as a mainlander surnamed Hong.
According to the statement, customs officers noticed that the man, who was entering the mainland through the “nothing to declare” channel on September 8, was carrying a tightly sealed, suspicious parcel. Officers intercepted the man, who appeared nervous when questioned.
Customs officers inspected his parcel and found six microwave-safe plastic containers packed with four live lizards and 13 live snakes.
Following examinations of the 17 reptiles, Gongbei Customs’ laboratory confirmed that they comprised one West African leaf viper, one rhinoceros viper, 11 brown tree snakes, and four fire skinks, the statement said, pointing out that both the West African leaf viper and the rhinoceros viper are highly venomous snakes with distinctive appearances.
Currently, the statement noted, there is no specific antivenom available for the two species in the country. Consequently, if someone is bitten, life-saving treatment is difficult, carrying a high risk of disability or death.
This undated handout photo released by Gongbei customs on Friday shows the seized snakes and lizards.
