SAN DIEGO: Authorities said Tuesday that a guy who tried to slither past US border guards in California had 52 lizards and snakes hidden in his trousers.

The man was driving a truck when he arrived at the San Ysidro border crossing with Mexico on Feb. 25 and was detained for further inspection, according to a statement from US Customs and Border Protection.

Agents found 52 live reptiles tied up in small bags “which were concealed in the man’s jacket, pants pockets, and groin area,” the statement said.

There were nine snakes and 43 horned lizards seized. Authorities claim that several of the species are endangered.

“Smugglers will try every possible way to try and get their product, or in this case live reptiles, across the border,” said Sidney Aki, Customs and Border Protection director of field operations in San Diego. “In this occasion, the smuggler attempted to deceive CBP officers in order to bring these animals into the US, without taking care for the health and safety of the animals.”

The individual, a 30-year-old American citizen, was taken into custody.

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