Man arrested for 'smuggling venomous king cobra snakes hidden in crisp tubes into United States'

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A Los Angeles man has been arrested for arranging the smuggling of three highly-venomous king cobra snakes into the United States – hidden inside potato crisp tubes.

Rodrigo Franco, 34, was charged after a parcel from Hong Kong was intercepted by US Customs and Border Protection agents in March containing the two-foot-long snakes concealed inside the packaging.

Three albino Chinese soft-shelled turtles were also found, prosecutors said, adding that Franco on that same day posted a box to Hong Kong with six protected turtles inside.

He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison if convicted.