People who have turned to a life of smuggling items across the border have had to get very creative in order to make their moves. Sometimes, it pays off but other times, you’ll end up in jail.
A New York City man has been charged with smuggling three Burmese pythons in his pants at a United States-Canadian border crossing. Calvin Bautista was arrested back on July 15, 2018, when it was discovered he tried to bring the hidden snakes on a bus that crossed into Northern New York.
The importation of Burmese pythons is regulated by an international treaty and by federal regulations listing them as “injurious to human beings,” making Bautista’s attempt extremely dangerous to himself and others. The Burmese python is also considered a vulnerable species in its native Asia and is invasive in Florida, where it threatens native animals.
The 36-year-old from Queens was arraigned in Albany on the federal smuggling charge and released pending trial. According to federal prosecutors, the charge could mean a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine as high as $250,000.
Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndny/pr/queens-man-charged-smuggling-snakes