Man Smuggles 3 Snakes Into U.S. by Shoving Pythons in His Pants: DOJ

A man allegedly smuggled snakes in his pants across the U.S.-Canadian border, federal prosecutors say.

Calvin Bautista, 36, from Richmond Hill, New York, appeared in court in Albany on Tuesday to face charges of smuggling three Burmese pythons across the border.

Bautista is accused of trying to smuggle the snakes into the U.S. at the Champlain border crossing, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York.

"Bautista smuggled the snakes in his pants as he rode on a bus that crossed the U.S.-Canadian border, " it said in a statement.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) lists Burmese pythons as an "injurious species" under the Lacey Act, preventing the importation of the constrictor snakes into the country. "Injurious species" are those that could be harmful to the U.S. economy or environment.

Should Bautista be found guilty, he could face a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 as well as a term of supervised release of up to three years.

The case is being investigated by the USFWS and officers from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Burmese pythons have established themselves as a successful invasive species in southern Florida and experts say they pose a significant risk to the state's ecosystems.

The non-venomous constrictors are among the largest snakes in the world, capable of growing to around 20 feet in length—with the Florida record being a specimen that measured 18 feet, 9 inches.

They are tan in color with dark blotches along the back and sides, which can look like the markings on a giraffe.

Newsweek has contacted the USFWS for comment.

Snakes should be handled with care. Earlier this month, a man was bitten in the face by a cobra in India after he tried to kiss it and is now battling for his life in hospital.

A video shared on Twitter by user A.H. Siddiqui showed a man from Karnataka state as he tried to kiss the snake.

As the man held the snake to his lips, it lunged forward and bit him on the mouth. Stunned, the man dropped the snake.

While the cobra's venom is not the most potent among snake species, the amount administered in a single bite can be enough to kill 20 people.

In September, a black mamba killed a man's wife, daughter and nephew in a single attack in Zimbabwe.

The snake has a fearsome reputation and is referred to as "the deadliest and fastest snake in Africa."