Customs and Border Protection officers at JFK were shocked to find (and seize) five live King Cobras during a routine mail inspection at the airport mail facility.
Have you ever seen the movie “Snakes on a Plane?” We’ll that could have conceivably been a reality on one flight containing mail from China last month.
CBP officers at the JFK International Mail Facility examined express mail from Hong Kong to find five live king cobras and a handful of geckos. The contents of one package were described as a plastic tray but an x-ray showed what appeared to be snakes in a round container.
One package was described as a plastic tray, but when x-rayed revealed what appeared to be the outlines of snakes in a round container. The Fish and Wildlife Service was called to the scene to examine the package.
Upon further investigation, the agents discovered a styrofoam casing with rows of air holes. The Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the package did contain five young king cobras live snakes three geckos.
The critters had all miraculously survived the trip, and the package was turned over to the FWS for further investigation.
King Cobras are the world’s longest venomous snake, with a maximum length 18.5 to 18.8 ft when fully grown. The king cobra is a dangerous snake that has a fearsome and well-deserved reputation.
Featured image source [U. S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECT]