I say put him away

This stuff has to be punished. This hits new levels of selfishness and irresponsibility. I hate to think what could have happened if this package arrived at the wrong address.

*tilts head* Huh?

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/07/26...chip-cans.html
California man accused of smuggling deadly king cobras in potato chip cans

Published July 26, 2017

A notorious animal smuggler is accused of trying to sneak a trio of live -- and deadly -- king cobras into the United States by using potato chip canisters to conceal the slithering snakes.

Rodrigo Franco, 34, of Monterey Park, was charged with one count of illegally importing merchandise and is slated to be arraigned in August, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The venomous king cobra snakes – each about two feet long – were found in March when Customs and Border Protection officers inspected a package mailed from Hong Kong, prosecutors said. There were also three albino Chinese soft-shelled turtles in the package, according to authorities.

The cobras were removed, but the turtles were delivered to Franco’s home by federal agents.

Agents serving a warrant allegedly found Franco's home filled with reptiles, including tanks with a live baby Morelet’s crocodile, alligator snapping turtles, a common snapping turtle and five diamond back terrapins. Prosecutors said each of those creatures is protected under U.S. law.

This was not Franco’s first time being accused in a cobra-smuggling attempt. Franco told an agent from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that he had previously received 20 king cobras in two other shipments, but he said they all died in transit, according to court documents.

Agents searched Franco’s phone and discovered messages he exchanged with a person in Asia regarding shipping turtles and snakes between Hong Kong and the U.S., prosecutors said. Franco said in those messages that he had previously received live cobras and planned to give five of the snakes to a relative of the contact in Virginia, court papers said.

If convicted, Franco could spend 20 years in prison.

a "notorious" smuggler...why was this man not already behind bars, i wonder.

Oh my....

On top of all the laws broken, and the dangerous nature of the snakes, how about the callous dismissal of the snakes that died in prior shipments? This guy shouldn't have contact with creatures of any species.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

a "notorious" smuggler...why was this man not already behind bars, i wonder.

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because the punishments are never harsh enough to have any kind of impact. Heck half the time they just get a fine.
Look at Crutchfield, convicted smuggler, still allowed to deal in reptiles. I don't get it.

They should put him in an oil drum and ship him. You think he would die in transport? He needs more than 20 years!

Wow, what a total slimeball (trying real hard not to say bad words)

I hope he gets what he deserves, in one way or another. :mad:

Where's Dexter when you need him :)


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