Man stopped at German airport with 92 reptiles in suitcase

German customs found 92 reptiles in a traveller’s suitcase at Cologne Bonn Airport.

The 45-year-old man, a Mexican firefighter, was travelling from Mexico via Istanbul.

Officials said the animals included 37 live venomous snakes and 55 lizards, hidden in containers, bottles and socks.

The man said he was carrying them as a favour for a Brazilian acquaintance, but customs said some were kept in inhumane conditions and others had died on the journey.

He was refused entry to Germany and sent back to Istanbul.

The surviving reptiles are being cared for at a snake farm in Germany.

Customs said it made more than 1,300 seizures involving protected animals, plants or related products nationwide last year.