37 venomous snakes and 55 lizards packed into a suitcase: German airport customs left stunned

A shipment of 92 reptiles, including 37 venomous snakes and 55 lizards, was found concealed in a passenger’s suitcase at Cologne Bonn Airport, authorities reported.

The reptiles were packed inside shampoo bottles, cream containers, and socks, with about 30 animals dying during or after the journey from Mexico.

The discovery occurred roughly three weeks prior to the report, after a 45-year-old Mexican man traveling from Mexico City via Istanbul arrived in Germany on a connecting flight, initially through the green customs channel.

Customs officials, who suspected drug activity due to the passenger’s nervous behavior, conducted a positive cocaine test prior to the suitcase search; no narcotics were found, but the reptiles were uncovered during the subsequent examination.

The surviving reptiles received veterinary care in Cologne and were transferred to a specialized facility near Braunschweig, while the passenger was denied entry to Germany and returned to Istanbul.