3-meter rare snake was found in a passenger's bag at Uzbekistan's border (video)

A 3-meter-long snake was discovered inside a passenger's handbag at the "Gishtkoprik" border customs post in the Tashkent region.

The customs department of the region reported that the snake was found when the pedestrian's bag was scanned through control-x-ray equipment. Customs officers inspected the bag further after a verbal request and realized the passenger had not declared the snake.

"It was identified as a tiger-like albino rattlesnake, a rare species native to South and Southeast Asia," the report states.

Since this type of snake is listed in the International Red Book, the import of the animal into Uzbekistan requires an international CITES permit, which the passenger failed to present. As a result, the customs officers confiscated the snake, handing it over to the Tashkent Zoo, where experts confirmed the snake's condition as stable.

The customs department is continuing its investigation into the incident.

In a related case, smugglers were recently caught in Kyrgyzstan attempting to transfer 34 yaks into Uzbekistan illegally.