Hawaiian screeners find living snake in suitcase

Airline Industry Information, May 6, 2005

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Screeners at Honolulu International Airport found a snake in a suitcase on Tuesday (3 May).

Hawaiian agriculture officials said it was the first time that a living snake had been found by screeners. Snakes are reportedly illegal in Hawaii, apart from the Hawaiian blind snake.

The snake, which was a three-foot-long orange and white albino corn snake, was found in a bag belonging to a woman who was flying from Honolulu to Sacramento, California in the US. The woman said she had packed her own bag but did not know how the snake got into it, The Associated Press reported.

The woman was reportedly given a USD5,000 citation for illegal transportation, possession and harbouring of a snake, a sum that doubles if it is not paid within seven days. The snake is being held at the Plant Quarantine Branch.

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