Smuggler caught with five live snakes stuffed in her BRA as customs noticed ‘oddly-shaped’ breasts 

Customs officials in China caught a woman red-handed trying to smuggle five live snakes she had stuffed in her bra.

But the ‘weird’ shape of her chest made Futian Port Passenger Inspection agents suspicious, and after getting her to take off her top, they discovered the snakes tied in stockings underneath.

The woman was caught trying to enter Shenzhen by boat, a large sub-provincial city and one of the places where people can cross into Hong Kong.

The find was announced by China Customs on its official WeChat account last week on July 8.

All of the snakes were later identified as corn snakes, which are non-venomous snakes native to the US that are popular on the online marketplace but illegally imported into the country.

All snakes were later identified as corn snakes, non-venomous snakes native to the US

The snakes were tied in stockings and ‘hidden’ in the smuggler’s bra

The ban was put in place to prevent unregulated introduction of non-native species into the local countryside, but also because of the risk of them transmitting diseases or bacteria that could infect local people in the country.

However, they are in high demand due to their docile nature and bright, vibrant colors that make them a viable option as exotic pets.

Reptile collectors make up 5.8 percent of China’s millions of pet owners according to Pethadoop’s 2021 report on the country’s pet industry.

Chinese customs regulations require animals from abroad to be declared prior to entry and then undergo a period of quarantine.

Furthermore, if they had entered Shenzhen, they could have been traded without permission from China’s central government due to the city’s Special Economic Zone status.

However, officials have identified some non-native species such as the water hyacinth, red fire ant and apple snail.

The snakes have now been given to zoo employees for safekeeping.