MAN ALLEGEDLY HID 200 LIZARDS IN SOCKS AT TOKYO AIRPORT
Tokyo police arrested a Mexican man after about 200 lizards in socks were allegedly found in his suitcase at Haneda Airport.
Daniel Isaac Velasco Baltazar, 23, arrived in Tokyo on a flight from South Korea on August 8, 2026, when customs officers found the reptiles in his luggage. They were squeezed into 22 pairs of socks.
What officers found inside
Dexerto reported that officers noticed a suspicious bulge in a packed T-shirt during the luggage inspection.
One lizard was already dead when officials opened the bag.
At least nine of the lizards were identified as Mexican alligator lizards, a species native to Mexico’s highlands. International trade in them is restricted under CITES.
The tip, the arrest and the money
Police had received an anonymous tip in late July 2026 warning of a planned lizard-smuggling attempt, Tokyo Weekender reported. The tip concerned a shipment timed ahead of a reptile exhibition.
The Japan Times reported that Baltazar was arrested on August 12, 2026, over the alleged attempted import.
Police said he admitted to attempting to import the lizards without permission.
Police allege he tried to bring the reptiles into Japan without declaring them and without the required government authorization. The alleged violation falls under Japan’s Customs Act.
Baltazar reportedly said he bought the lizards in Mexico for a few dollars apiece. The lizards could sell for around $630 in Japan’s exotic-pet market, according to the reports.
Where the case stands
No conviction, sentence or court outcome has been reported.
Police were still investigating what species were among the other lizards in the suitcase, The Japan Times reported.
