On June 3, 2026, customs officers at Frankfurt Airport encountered an unusual surprise: a 20-year-old passenger traveling from Thailand to Germany via Dubai had three live snakes in his luggage. The young man initially stated that he had not purchased any goods worth more than 430 euros. However, before the luggage could be X-rayed, he informed the officers himself that there were live snakes in his suitcase.
When the suitcase was opened, the officers found three white fabric bags, each containing one snake, making a total of three snakes. The documents the traveler carried showed that they were “rainbow snakes” (rainbow snakes). The young man explained that he had brought them as a surprise gift for his mother, who lives in Germany.
Although he was initially unable to provide a receipt, he later presented proof of purchase for 2,400 US dollars. As a result, customs authorities imposed import duties amounting to 393.10 euros and initiated tax penalty proceedings, also requiring a security deposit of 400 euros.
However, since no issues regarding animal welfare or further veterinary requirements were identified, the three snakes will be returned to the traveler after payment of the taxes and the deposit.
A truly surprising and unusual gift idea!
