Man arrested in Tokyo after customs finds 200 lizards hidden in socks

At Haneda Airport, customs personnel stopped a 23-year-old man from Mexico who had flown in from South Korea and found about 200 lizards hidden inside 22 pairs of socks in his suitcase. The haul included nine Mexican alligator lizards, a species protected by international trade restrictions, and one of the creatures was dead when the bag was inspected. The traveler claimed he purchased the lizards in Mexico for roughly $3.50 to $4.70 each, despite reports that they can sell for around $630 each in Japan.

Security expert Keith Jeffries explained that high profit potential fuels unusual smuggling schemes and that wildlife trafficking is a recurring issue despite varied screening priorities. He contrasted U.S. airport screening, which focuses on weapons and explosives, with broader customs checks for prohibited biological material. Recent similar incidents, including a U.S. case involving a dog detecting meat and monitor lizards, highlight the ongoing challenge of illegal wildlife trade at airports.