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  Life   More Features  28 Jul 2017  Man caught smuggling cobras in potato chip cans in US

Man caught smuggling cobras in potato chip cans in US

THE ASIAN AGE
Published : Jul 28, 2017, 6:23 pm IST
Updated : Jul 28, 2017, 6:23 pm IST

The reptile is known for growing up to 18-feet long and its venom which can kill a human being in 30 minutes.

The package was shipped from Hong Kong (Photo: AFP)
 The package was shipped from Hong Kong (Photo: AFP)

Trafficking remains a major criminal activity across the world and while body parts of animals are widely smuggled for various purposes, some exotic and rather lethal creatures are also being trafficked.

In a shocking development in California, a man was caught trying to smuggle deadly King Cobras inside a can of potato chips. The reptile is known for growing up to 18-feet long and its venom which can kill a human being in 30 minutes and an elephant in a matter of hours.

 

The package also contained albino Chinese soft-shelled turtles, and to bust the racket cops kept the snakes and sent the package to a man who was set to receive it. They got a search warrant and raided Rodrigo Franco’s house to find many other protected species in his possession.

Franco admitted to receiving 20 King Cobras in two similar shipments previously.

Tags: pets and environment, smuggling, king cobra