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An Israeli man arriving in Tel Aviv from Thailand was reportedly caught with 186 exotic animals in his suitcase.
The suspect, a man in his 20s from Bnei Brak, was flagged by customs inspectors at Ben Gurion Airport (BGA), according to Israeli authorities and as first reported by Israel’s TPS-IL news agency Thursday. The news appears on the government’s customs and immigration website.
The man was smuggling snakes, turtles, crabs, frogs, lizards and other amphibians.
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While going through customs, the individual allegedly entered the green lane, as opposed to the red lane where travelers must declare items.
The seized animals are estimated to be worth tens of thousands of dollars, according to the Israeli Tax Authority, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Nature and Parks Authority.
While all the animals were located alive, officials said the creatures were transported under harsh conditions without food and in extreme heat.
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The suspect could be charged with severe abuse as well as violating animal welfare laws.
