Security officers at Cairo Airport have thwarted an attempt of a passenger to smuggle reptiles including 265 Nile baby crocodiles, the official MENA news agency reported on Sunday.
Youssef Mamdouh, Director of the Veterinary Quarantine at the airport, was quoted as saying that it's the biggest smuggling operation of the Nile crocodile in the history of aviation.
Mamdouh said the law of his country prohibits the hunting or selling of these reptiles in any way.
According to earlier reports, the Saudi-bound passenger was stopped at the departure gate when the X-ray machine revealed something strange in his two carry-on bags.
A large number of reptiles, including live snakes, baby crocodiles and chameleons were found in the bags when police opened them.
A technical committee, including experts from Giza Zoo, has been formed to inspect the reptiles carried in the luggage of the passenger, who said Saturday he bought the animals for scientific research, MENA report said.
Source: Xinhua
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