Berlin:
German authorities say they've arrested a 44-year-old Mexican man after finding his suitcase full of snakes, turtles and lizards, including endangered species.
Customs' spokesman Hans-Juergen Schmidt said the man, whose name wasn't released in accordance with privacy laws, was traveling from Mexico City to Barcelona.
He says the man's bag was X-rayed in Frankfurt where he was changing planes and customs officials found 55 turtles, 30 arboreal alligator lizards, four horned vipers and a five-keeled spiny-tailed iguana.
Schmidt says one of the animals, believed to be worth about 60,000 euros ($82,000) in total, had already died.
The man is being investigated by Frankfurt prosecutors on suspicion of violating the international Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and Germany's animal protection laws.
Customs' spokesman Hans-Juergen Schmidt said the man, whose name wasn't released in accordance with privacy laws, was traveling from Mexico City to Barcelona.
He says the man's bag was X-rayed in Frankfurt where he was changing planes and customs officials found 55 turtles, 30 arboreal alligator lizards, four horned vipers and a five-keeled spiny-tailed iguana.
Schmidt says one of the animals, believed to be worth about 60,000 euros ($82,000) in total, had already died.
The man is being investigated by Frankfurt prosecutors on suspicion of violating the international Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and Germany's animal protection laws.
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