Customs seize 16 live lizards hidden inside ferry passenger's bra

09 September 2023 , 21:52

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16 lizards were seized after a woman tried to traffic them into Hong Kong from China in her bra (Image: AsiaWire)

This is the moment customs agents in China seized 16 live lizards hidden inside a female passenger's bra.

The unnamed woman had been attempting to traffic the reptiles into Hong Kong, but was left red-faced after being caught on the Chinese mainland side of the border. Footage shows her shuffling through the customs area at Futian Port wearing incredibly baggy clothes, and was later forced to undergo a strip search after she drew too many suspicions.

As officers took her aside, they discovered she had five mesh bags placed inside her bra which contained 16 rare sail-finned lizards. Video released by the country's customs department shows agents the lizards out of the bags and placing them inside large, plastic containers while waiting for wildlife experts to take over.

The woman had five mesh bags of lizards hidden in her bra (AsiaWire)

The sailfin lizard (Hydrosaurus amboinensis), or sailfin dragon, is a group of large iguana-like reptiles named after the sail-like structure on their tails. Native to Indonesia and the Philippines, they are commonly found living near water and are threatened by both habitat loss and exotic pet trade.

Sizes vary with the largest males growing up to three-and-a-half feet long while the females are smaller. It's not known exactly what gender of reptile was seized.

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Footage shows the moment the woman was stopped at customs (AsiaWire)

Last month, customs agents seized 77 seahorses, five snakes and snail ointment from man travelling through a US airport. The male passenger was passing through Washington Dulles International Airport from Vietnam when he was subjected to a secondary bag check when suspicions of its contents were raised by customs agents.

The check, carried out on August 1, revealed the passenger was carrying a particularly bizarre contraband. Items included 77 dried seahorses, dead snakes, and an ointment derived from snails - along with illegal pork products. The man was travelling to a final destination of Fairfax, Virginia.

The lizards were discovered in Futian Port by customs officers (AsiaWire)

The import of all items discovered required necessary permits or documentation - of which the man did not have. Additionally, uncertified pork products from Vietnam are prohibited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture due to the potential introduction of the dangerous African swine fever and swine vesicular disease.

A second traveler from Vietnam, who arrived on August 4 and was destined to San Francisco and was found to be carrying four prohibited pork products and 50 small boxes of a commercial herbal liquid medicine that listed its ingredients as snake oil.

Sean McPolin