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Tokyo police have arrested a 23-year-old Mexican national at Haneda Airport after he allegedly attempted to smuggle roughly 200 live lizards into Japan inside rolled-up socks
The suspect, identified as Daniel Isaac Velasco Baltazar, arrived on a flight from South Korea before customs officers intercepted his luggage, according to Japan Times.
Japanese authorities accused him of violating the Customs Act by attempting to import protected reptiles without declaration or government approval.
Police had been on high alert since late July after receiving an anonymous tip-off that a Mexican man planned to smuggle lizards into the country ahead of a local reptile show.
During a routine baggage check, customs officers at the Tokyo Customs Haneda Sub-branch spotted unusual bulges inside packed T-shirts in his suitcase
A detailed inspection revealed about 200 lizards squeezed into 22 pairs of socks. One of the animals had already died inside the luggage before inspectors opened the case.
The confiscated animals included at least nine Mexican alligator lizards, an endangered species whose international trade is strictly controlled under the CITES agreement.
The lizards inhabit high-altitude pine and oak forests in Mexico, making them highly sought after by exotic pet collectors in East Asia.
Baltazar reportedly admitted to the allegations during police questioning
He told investigators he purchased the reptiles in Mexico for roughly 560 yen to 750 yen (RM15 to RM21.00) each. In contrast, Mexican alligator lizards sell for around 100,000 yen (RM2,500) each on Japan's black market.
Authorities believe the suitcase contained several other rare reptile species, and investigations into the broader smuggling network remain ongoing. Wildlife trafficking at major airports continues to pose a challenge for border control agencies across Asia.
