Snakes on a plane, seized in airport

Mon, 10/13/2008 11:28 AM  |  City

TANGERANG: Customs and excise officers foiled an attempt to smuggle endangered snakes from the Philippines into this country through a cargo-delivery service at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Friday.

"Five snakes arrived wrapped in a package, sent through a cargo delivery service and declared as a gift," Eko Darmanto, chief of intelligence at the customs office, said Saturday.

He said the three kinds of snakes -- Sunglow, Albino and Dream Boa -- were worth Rp 10 million (US$1,020) each in the local market.

The sender is identified as JW. The recipient, a Surabaya resident, is identified as RC.

The snakes are now in the airport's animal quarantine.

"We have passed the snakes along to the quarantine unit for further identification and to determine whether they carry certain diseases that could endanger flora and fauna in the country," Eko said.

Eko said importing illegal animals violates quarantine law and perpetrators could face a maximum punishment of three years in prison or fines amounting to Rp 150 million. -- JP

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