Cobras, crocodiles smuggled into Korea in snack tins, underwear

Five people have been indicted for allegedly smuggling nearly 200 wild animals, including cobras and endangered alligators, into South Korea and selling them to domestic buyers, the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office said Friday. The suspects allegedly imported the animals on 14 occasions between November 2023 and August 2024. Of the roughly 200 animals involved, 54 were endangered species. The alleged ringleader was detained, while the other four were indicted without detention. The ani