- A woman attempted to smuggle five snakes into China by concealing them in her bra.
- Customs officers became suspicious after observing her unusual body shape, leading to the discovery of the reptiles.
- The snakes were identified as corn snakes, which are indigenous to northeastern and central regions of the United States.
A woman was apprehended when attempting to transport five snakes into China. This discovery was made by customs officers who noticed that her body had an unusual shape. The Hong Kong newspaper, South China Morning Post, reported that the woman had concealed the snakes inside stockings which were then placed in her bra. China Customs later confirmed that all five snakes were corn snakes, a species native to the northeast and central regions of the United States. The woman was caught smuggling the snakes at Futian Port in Shenzhen, a city located in southeastern China bordering Hong Kong. The snakes were confiscated by customs officers and handed over to the authorities. The consequences faced by the woman for smuggling the snakes into China were not mentioned in the official statement.
In China, owning exotic pets has become increasingly popular, with an estimated 1 million people owning them as of 2017. However, the regulations surrounding the transport of these animals are complex. According to China’s laws for animal and plant quarantine during entry and exit, transporting animals in and out of China requires quarantine inspection by authorities.
China’s growing interest in exotic pets has led to a flourishing snake farming industry in the country. Deqing, a county in eastern China, is renowned for being one of the world’s snake farming hubs. With over 100 snake farms, it generates approximately $12 million in revenue annually, as revealed in a July 2018 investigation conducted by SCMP (South China Morning Post).
Insider reached out to China Customs for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
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