The Attempt to Smuggle 40 Phytons

The Reticulated Python is a species of Phyton snake found in Indonesia and other South East Asian countries. They are the world's longest snakes and longest reptile, adults can grow up to 8.7 meter in length,  they are relatively slim for their length and are certainly not the most heavily built.

They are nonvenomous constrictors and normally not considered dangerous to humans. Although large specimens are powerful enough to kill an adult human, attacks are only occasionally reported. 

U.P.I reported that authorities at the Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta airport have arrested two men from Kuwait who tried to smuggle 40 Python snakes onto an Air Emirate flight heading for Dubai last Friday.

Both men, Yaqub Ebrahim and Ali Hasan, carry the snakes in sedated condition in their hand luggage onto the plane's cabin but authorities at the international departure checkpoint discovered the Phytons, which were then taken to the Airport's quarantine center.

Daily Mail quoted an airport security spokesman as saying that no animals are allowed to be brought onto an aircraft without permission and special handling. The animals are usually placed in the cargo hold instead of the passenger cabin. And Pythons snakes are among the animals banned.

The suspects would face up to seven years in jail if they are found guilty.

Photo: Courtesy of AFP.