SHENZHEN Customs seized a total of 103 live animals, including two Mexican black king snakes, 38 Amazon leaf frogs, 19 blue-tongued lizards and two snails, at the checkpoint at Hong Kong West Kowloon Railway Station on Tuesday, according to the Southern Metropolis Daily.

A tourist’s package raised the checkpoint staff’s suspicions as it passed through the security check. The staff found dozens of transparent plastic boxes with live animals, such as Madagascar golden mantillas, Amazon leaf frogs and king snakes, after signaling for the tourist to open the package for inspection.

At present, these animals have been seized for further quarantine.

Another two female tourists were recently found carrying US$330,000 in cash when passing through Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint. The case has been handed to anti-smuggling departments for investigation.

The two women were trying to hide themselves among other passengers when passing through the checkpoint, which attracted staff’s attention.

After an inspection, they were found hiding US$160,000 and US$170,000, respectively, in special belts around their waists. The two, who claimed to be mother and daughter, admitted that they had been entrusted by others to carry the cash out of the mainland.

Staff from customs explained that tourists are not allowed to bring live animals (dogs and cats excluded) when crossing the border, as they might lead to exotic species invasion.

Additionally, passengers can only carry 20,000 yuan (US$2,823) in cash, or foreign currencies totaling US$5,000, when crossing the border. If passengers do need to carry more than the permitted amount, they should first complete filing procedures at banks and foreign currency management departments before being issued a customs clearance.

(Wang Jingli)