Customs officers in Russia's Kaliningrad region discovered 116 live lizards hidden inside a woman's jacket as she attempted to cross the border into Poland on August 25.
The passenger was travelling on a bus stopped at the Mamonovo-2 border checkpoint. Inspectors searching her clothing found dozens of small canvas bags concealed within the lining of her jacket, each containing between three and five live reptiles measuring around 10 to 15cm long.
Smuggling attempt foiled at checkpoint
The woman could not produce any documents permitting her to transport the animals. According to Russian customs officials, she told inspectors she had agreed to take the reptiles to Germany in return for money.
Experts later identified the animals as secret toadhead agamas, a desert-dwelling reptile protected under Russia's Red Data Book. The lizards are found in sandy and desert habitats across parts of Russia and Central Asia and are known for a dramatic defensive display when threatened, flattening their bodies and opening their mouths to expose conspicuous folds of skin.
Reptiles handed to rescue centre
All 116 reptiles survived the journey to the border and were handed over to a local exotic animal rescue centre, according to customs officials. The woman now faces administrative proceedings for allegedly concealing goods from customs control.
Under Russian law, she could be fined up to three times the value of the seized goods, with confiscation also possible. Pictures released by customs officials show scores of the small reptiles after they were removed from their hiding place.
