US officials: Canadian man tried to ship live snakes in mail
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Federal prosecutors in New York say a Canadian man attempted to ship live snakes to China through the mail.
The U.S. attorney's office in Buffalo says 28-year-old Chaoyi Le, of Mississauga (mih-sih-SAW'-guh), Ontario, was taken into custody Friday in Los Angeles after getting off a flight from Shanghai.
Prosecutors say he previously was found with 55 live reptiles — including ball pythons — in Chicago during a trip from Toronto to China in February 2014. Officials say many of the reptiles are protected under international law.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Two months later he was stopped while entering Canada from the U.S. and found to have three albino Western hog-nosed snakes hidden in his socks.
Officials say he faces charges and will be sent back to Buffalo.
It wasn't clear if he has a lawyer.