Cobras in Potato Chip Cans Lead to Smuggling Charge

After accepting a package containing three king cobras coiled inside potato chip cans, a California man was arrested Tuesday for illegally importing merchandise.

Prosecutors said the cobras were found in March during a Customs and Border Protection search of a package from Hong Kong. Agents removed the cobras from the shipment but federal agents delivered three albino Chinese soft-shelled turtles to Roderigo Franco, 34, with a warrant to search the premises.

Franco had several other protected reptiles in his home, including a baby Morelet’s crocodile, alligator snapping turtles, and diamond back terrapins, Fox News reported.

He was charged with one count of illegally importing merchandise, with arraignment in August, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Franco said he previously received 20 king cobras in other packages but that they all died during transport, Fox News reported. Police also reportedly found messages about shipping turtles and snakes between the U.S. and Hong Kong, as well as receiving live cobras that he planned to give to a Virginia contact.

If Franco is convicted of the charge, he could spend 20 years in prison.

Twitter users found cobras in potato chip cans comical, to say the least.

May have had better luck if he used a brand of chips people actually eat. #pringles

— Sarcasm King (@cincybrian) July 26, 2017

The thought of cramming the cobra in the small can is scary.

— Michael Young (@advdays) July 26, 2017

People do the dumbest things.

— AgonizingPeace💀 (@philipammerman1) July 26, 2017

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