Poison snake smuggler snared
Source: Agencies |
December 29, 2011, Thursday
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A MAN tried to board a plane in Argentina with almost 250 reptiles and bugs - including poisonous snakes and endangered species - in his baggage, each meticulously labeled with its Latin name.
Czech citizen Karel Abelovsky, 51, was en route to Spain when airport officials made him open his baggage at Buenos Aires international airport after police spotted the reptiles in the X-ray scanner. They found 247 exotic and endangered creatures in all, packed inside plastic containers, bags and even socks.
Authorities believe the Czech was a courier for a criminal organization that smuggles exotic species whose exports are banned, a judicial source said on Tuesday.
They said he only arrived in Argentina days earlier and would not have had time to gather all the animals.
Judge Marcelo Aguinsky believes the boa constrictors, poisonous pit vipers and coral snakes, lizards and spiders could have escaped from the cloth suitcase in the unpressurized cabin of the December 7 Iberia flight to Madrid and attacked people there or at Abelovsky's final destination in Prague, the source added.
Abelovsky was released on US$2,500 bail after surrendering his passport and is refusing to talk, even though he faces up to 10 years in prison.
He runs a Czech website that offers reptiles for sale. A woman who answered the number on the site said she was his wife but did not give her name and said only that her husband was "ordinary."
Czech authorities have no information about Abelovsky, said a spokeswoman for Czech customs administration.
Czech television reported earlier this year that in 2010, customs officials in the country detained 55 smugglers with dozens of exotic animals.
Most of the animals and bugs are being held under quarantine at Buenos Aires Zoo, while some of the venomous snakes were sent to Argentina's national health institute, which has a high-security department where scientists develop antidotes using venom from snakes.
The species include lizards native to Mexico and snakes, spiders, snails and other species from northern Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. Some were dead in the suitcase, while others have succumbed to stress since then. However, most are still alive.
Wild reptiles are known to carry infectious diseases and so must be kept apart from the public and other animals, said Miguel Rivolta, lead zoo veterinarian.
"The best thing that can happen to these animals is that they liberate them as soon as possible in their natural habitat," Rivolta said.
Czech citizen Karel Abelovsky, 51, was en route to Spain when airport officials made him open his baggage at Buenos Aires international airport after police spotted the reptiles in the X-ray scanner. They found 247 exotic and endangered creatures in all, packed inside plastic containers, bags and even socks.
Authorities believe the Czech was a courier for a criminal organization that smuggles exotic species whose exports are banned, a judicial source said on Tuesday.
They said he only arrived in Argentina days earlier and would not have had time to gather all the animals.
Judge Marcelo Aguinsky believes the boa constrictors, poisonous pit vipers and coral snakes, lizards and spiders could have escaped from the cloth suitcase in the unpressurized cabin of the December 7 Iberia flight to Madrid and attacked people there or at Abelovsky's final destination in Prague, the source added.
Abelovsky was released on US$2,500 bail after surrendering his passport and is refusing to talk, even though he faces up to 10 years in prison.
He runs a Czech website that offers reptiles for sale. A woman who answered the number on the site said she was his wife but did not give her name and said only that her husband was "ordinary."
Czech authorities have no information about Abelovsky, said a spokeswoman for Czech customs administration.
Czech television reported earlier this year that in 2010, customs officials in the country detained 55 smugglers with dozens of exotic animals.
Most of the animals and bugs are being held under quarantine at Buenos Aires Zoo, while some of the venomous snakes were sent to Argentina's national health institute, which has a high-security department where scientists develop antidotes using venom from snakes.
The species include lizards native to Mexico and snakes, spiders, snails and other species from northern Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. Some were dead in the suitcase, while others have succumbed to stress since then. However, most are still alive.
Wild reptiles are known to carry infectious diseases and so must be kept apart from the public and other animals, said Miguel Rivolta, lead zoo veterinarian.
"The best thing that can happen to these animals is that they liberate them as soon as possible in their natural habitat," Rivolta said.
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