Posted on 07/29/2026 11:58:33 AM PDT by CedarDave
Federal agents came across a lot more than cocaine, guns and cash when they searched the home of a suspected drug trafficker in the South Valley last week.
Agents also discovered more than 50 venomous snakes, including pit vipers, cobras and the inland taipan — the most venomous snake in the world — according to search warrants unsealed Monday in U.S. District Court for New Mexico.
According to a NM Department of Wildlife seizure inventory, the snakes included king and spitting cobras, Fer-de-lance, black and green mambas, numerous varieties of pit vipers and reticulated pythons. Many of the snakes, some of which were hatchlings, were in enclosures while others were in large trash cans and plastic tubs.
Bob Myers, owner of the Rattlesnake Museum in Old Town, said 9 out of 10 of the snakes on the list are “easily lethal to human beings.”
The Journal reached to Myers as a snake expert. He had nothing to do with the case or snake seizure.
Myers said the inland taipan tops the list as “the most potently venomous land snake in the world.” He said the seized Russell’s viper is a “big culprit” in the 10,000 to 50,000 snake bite deaths recorded in India every year.
“I don't know who this person is, but that is a very serious collection of venomous snakes and nonvenomous — the reticulated pythons get big. They're powerful. They can overcome a human and kill them. So, gosh, that is some list,” Myers said.
Aside from the snakes, court records show Homeland Security Investigations agents found a half-pound of cocaine, three guns and $22,000 in cash. There was no mention of snakes in the documents supporting the search warrant and it is unclear if the agents knew what they were walking into.
(Excerpt) Read more at abqjournal.com ...
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Wow!
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Imagine if he collected firearms instead of snakes.
I worry that these could escape and become invasive species like pythons in the Everglades.
Please tell me the snakes were destroyed.
In before Indiana Jones.
The question is how he got these into the US, certainly not through usual US Custom’s procedures. I imagine the smugglers had no idea how dangerous these snakes were or were so messed up they didn’t care.
Had I known what a douchenozzle Harrison Ford would turn into I would have been rooting for the snakes in the Indiana Jones movie.
I also root for Darth Vader in Star Wars now.
Underwear full of starving sea snakes would be worse. Just sayin.
From the article:
It is unclear what became of the snakes. A Department of Wildlife spokesperson did not respond to multiple questions.
I suspect many will go to certified zoos or research facilities that can handle them. They most certainly won't be released into the wild or be given to so-called reptile collectors.
His intention was to use the snakes in an act of terrorism.
These snakes are from all over the world. It was not likely a one-time smuggling incident.
Great. Watch what happens if those escape.
I did not see a Gabon Viper on that list so he had not completed his bad ass snakes bingo card.
“I worry that these could escape and become invasive species like pythons in the Everglades.”
The Python numbers have fallen. Turns out the critters down there have learned how to hunt them and their eggs.
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