German customs seize 37 venomous snakes and 55 lizards hidden in Mexican tourist's suitcase

At Cologne Airport, customs agents were alerted by the erratic behavior of a 45-year-old man arriving from Mexico and administered a drug test that returned positive for cocaine. While no narcotics were found in his luggage, officers uncovered a surprising cargo of live reptiles hidden in personal care containers and clothing. The collection comprised 37 venomous snakes and 55 lizards, species ranging from vipers and rattlesnakes to iguanas and salamanders, which customs officials described as unprecedented.

The traveler explained that the animals were intended for an acquaintance in Brazil, but the journey proved fatal for roughly thirty of them due to lack of food and water. A veterinarian treated the surviving reptiles before they were transferred to a reptile breeding center near Braunschweig, three hours east of the airport. German police barred the man from entering the country, labeling him a public safety risk, and arranged his return to Istanbul.