Europe is home to a ravenous reptile collecting community. That’s why so many people take great steps to tape, stuff, or otherwise hide reptiles, lizards, and other creepy crawlies on their body for animal smuggling purposes. While a lot of Europeans have stuffed a lizard in their pants, none of them have gone as far as Hans Kurt Kubus, a German-born reptile collector. He was caught attempting to go through customs at Christchurch International Airport on New Zealand’s South Island with 44 rare skinks and geckos in his pants!
Like they say, it’s all fun and games until those lizards get out of your pants; then stuff gets serious.
Apparently this isn’t Kubus’ first trip to New Zealand. He’s made four trips previously, no doubt sneaking animals around in his underwear those times, too. Those geckos he had stuffed in his knickers are worth up to $2800 each! That makes Kubus’ seven violations of New Zealand laws concerning “trading in exploited species without a permit” and “hunting absolutely protected wildlife without authority” are serious. Well, as serious as charges centered around stuffing critters in your pants can be.
Tags: Hans Kurt Kubus, Christchurch International Airport, South Island, New Zealand, man smuggles 44 lizards in his underwear, underpants lizards, unusual animals, animal smuggling, law and order, dumb criminals