Hong Kong customs authorities investigating a shipment from Thailand marked as fruit were shocked to discover the consignment instead contained 2,600 live snakes, officials said Friday. Customs intercepted the air cargo shipment of 2,400 common rat snakes and 200 cobras on Tuesday and returned them on Thursday, a government spokeswoman said, just days before the start of the Year of the Snake in the Chinese horoscope. The intended fate of the snakes was not known but both species are used in southern Chinese cuisine. Snake is considered a delicacy, often served as a soup, and is believed to improve blood circulation and ward off illness. Under Hong Kong law, anyone found guilty of smuggling cargo into the city faces imprisonment of up to seven years and a maximum fine of HK$2 million (US$250,000). The latest bust comes after Hong Kong customs last month seized more than US$1 million worth of endangered seahorses and crocodile meat being smuggled into the city, believed to be for Chinese medicine and eating, respectively.
GMT 10:31 2018 Tuesday ,13 November
Russian police uproot 70 underground drug labs in past six monthsGMT 16:32 2018 Tuesday ,06 November
Rwanda aims to achieve universal access to clean water by 2024GMT 16:57 2018 Sunday ,04 November
Palestinian women witness higher cure rate of breast cancerGMT 13:11 2018 Tuesday ,30 October
Emergency surgery saves life of touristGMT 10:44 2018 Tuesday ,23 October
Scientists find microplastics in human stool for first timeGMT 09:18 2018 Tuesday ,23 October
US judge upholds Monsanto weedkiller cancer verdict, reduces payoutGMT 14:22 2018 Friday ,19 October
Birth spacing ‘improving health of Omani women’GMT 15:40 2018 Monday ,15 October
Pakistani president launches nationwide anti-measles driveMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor