Skip to main content

Egyptian detectives catch tourist carrying snakes on a plane

The Turkish tourist had reportedly stuffed 36 different kinds of dead snakes in a suitcase before heading to popular snorkelling spot
There were reportedly 36 different kinds of snakes found in a tourist's suitcase in at an Egyptian airport on Thursday (AFP)

Detectives at Egypt's Hurghada International Airport reportedly arrested a Turkish tourist on Thursday who flew into the tourism hot spot with 36 different kinds of snake skin, the state-run Al-Ahram news reported.

When a flight from Istanbul landed in the popular Red Sea snorkelling and scuba diving location, airport security officials were searching suitcases when they made the grisly reptilian discovery.

Authorities seized the skins of various length and variety which were reportedly tanned and prepped to be made into products, a practice which violates Egyptian environmental law, Ahram reported. 

This is not the first time the airport has been at the centre of a snake-on-a-plane situation.

In 2013, an Egypt Air pilot was forced to make an emergency landing at the airport when a snake reportedly bit a Jordanian passenger who had hidden the animal in his carry-on luggage.

The passenger was taken off the flight for medical treatment while local authorities took hold of the snake. The flight then continued to Kuwait. 

Stay informed with MEE's newsletters

Sign up to get the latest alerts, insights and analysis, starting with Turkey Unpacked

 
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.