Czech caught for smuggling reptiles

Czech caught for smuggling reptiles

CZECH REPUBLIC: A man was caught at Prague airport trying to smuggle almost 70 snakes, lizards and other rare reptiles into the Czech Republic from Indonesia, customs officers said on Monday.

Customs officers at Prague's Ruzyne Airport found the animals, valued at 650,000 koruna (US$24.24), in the Czech man's luggage and clothes, customs spokesman Zdenek Malek said.

The man, who is understood to be a leading organizer of the illegal trade in animals to Western Europe, now faces up to five years in prison.

The animals were handed over to Czech environmental officials.

In January a Czech man was caught trying to smuggle 22 monitor lizards, 19 pythons and 74 turtles into the Czech Republic from Indonesia. -- AFP