Why it’s important to know the law in the country you’re visiting

Because otherwise, you might not be able to take home your precious “souvenir.”

CAIRO, Egypt – Security officers at Cairo airport were horrified when the search of a Saudi passenger’s carry-on luggage revealed a mass of live snakes, baby crocodiles and chameleons, police said.

Police became suspicious of the 22-year-old man’s pair of carry-on bags when the X-ray machine at the departure gate gave odd readings. They opened the bags and found a large number of reptiles, including at least one cobra, squirming to escape.

Source: MSNBC.com

I once read this book, By the Seat of my Pants, a compilation of travel stories from various travel writers. Wickham Boyle, one of the contributing writers, shares the story of the time she had to smuggle a snake from the USA to Italy.

Like the guy in Cairo, she carried it inside her handcarry bag. Unlike him though, she got away with it. On the air, when the snake started stirring (prior to departure, she put it inside the fridge to make it groggy and sleepy), she pleaded her case with the flight attendant and the FA consented to store it inside one of the galley’s refrigerator. They landed in Italy, and she breezed out of the airport, no problems.

But then that was back in 1987. Don’t try that in 2007.