see also: in September 2006 News Releases:   CBP Seized Heroin Onboard Mayaguez Ferry   The Dominican Republic to Implement Container Security Initiative and Begin Targeting and Pre-Screening Cargo Destined For U.S.   Bahamas to Implement Container Security Initiative and Begin Targeting and Pre-Screening Cargo Destined for United States   Civil Penalties for Agriculture Import Violations to Increase October 1   CBP Border Patrol Arrests Homicide Suspect in Abilene, Texas   Border Patrol Advanced Training to Move to Charleston, S.C.   National Guard Spots Attempted Vehicle Drive-through ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Sweetgrass, Mont. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers here “apprehended” five snakes Monday after being refused admittance into Canada at the adjoining port of Coutts, Alberta. A 24-year-old male U.S. citizen was attempting to enter Canada via automobile with the snakes in pillowcases when Canada Border Service Agency officers discovered he did not have the required export certificate.

The three Ball Pythons and two Red-Tail Boas are protected under the Endangered Species Act and require a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) permit to export protected species. As the owner of the snakes was not in possession of an export permit, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife officer gave the owner the option of returning the snakes to the U.S. to obtain a valid export permit or to take them to a local veterinarian for storage. The owner was in a hurry to get to Canada and decided to abandon the snakes at the port of entry.

CBP officers seized the snakes and the Fish and Wildlife officer made arrangements to turn the snakes over to an animal shelter. Both the Ball Python (also known as the Royal Python) and the Red-tailed Boa (also known as Boa Constrictor) are commonly owned as pets.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control, and protection of our Nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.