Hundreds of lizards hidden in socks trigger smuggling arrest at Tokyo airport
At Haneda Airport, a 23-year-old Mexican man was arrested after customs uncovered about 200 lizards stuffed into 22 pairs of socks in his suitcase, including nine Mexican alligator lizards, an endangered species with trade limits. One lizard was dead when opened. He reportedly bought the animals in Mexico for roughly $3.50–$4.70 each, and some reptiles can fetch high prices in Japan, illustrating persistent wildlife-smuggling incentives.