• Germany edition
Please sir, don't put me in your underpants!  Photo: DPA

German tourist caught smuggling lizards in his underwear

Published: 8 Dec 09 08:02 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20091208-23791.html

A German tourist has been caught trying to leave New Zealand with 23 geckos and 20 skinks hidden in his underwear, a court heard on Monday.

Hans Kubus, 58, was stopped at Christchurch Airport on Sunday after checking in, and was searched by customs staff.

A small package containing the reptiles was found in his underwear, prosecutor Mike Bodie told the Christchurch District Court on Monday.

"The package contained eight separate compartments separating various gecko and skink species," he said.

Kubus' luggage also contained a single gecko in a rolled up sock.

A total of 24 geckos were found from five different species, as well as 20 skinks from two species.

The German admitted trading geckos and taking geckos and skinks from the wild without a permit.

A black market trade in geckos exists in Europe and those taken by Kubus would have had a street value of around $35,850 US, Bodie said.

The value of the skinks was unknown because trading in that species had not previously been identified.

Kubus was due to be sentenced on January 25.

AFP (news@thelocal.de)

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Your comments about this article:

16:20 December 8, 2009 by hkypuck
(I have to say it):

Hooker: Hey there sailor, is that a lizard in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

Kubus: Actually, its in my underwear.

Hooker: Yeah! I'll be it is! Look, it's $40 for an hour...

Kubus: AAHH! You damn skink!

Hooker: Hey relax pal, you can just say 'no.' You don't have to call me a "skank"...I work hard for the money...

Kubus: No. "SKINK"..I have 20 of 'em in my shorts. See..."

Hooker: Holy crap, man! You're a freak...
20:18 December 8, 2009 by lordwilliams629
I've been carrying a lizard in my pants my whole life. Do I need to worry at an airport.
22:50 December 8, 2009 by ECSNatale
How stupid are people. I mean really?!
23:22 December 8, 2009 by wxman
I'll bet he can give you a better deal on the car insurance than the caveman.
00:12 December 9, 2009 by kreuzberg36
ah, so that's what people mean when they talk about their "trouser lizard."
06:37 December 9, 2009 by Garth Rex
HYmmmm...! So this guy carries lizards around in his underwear. I bet that Sigmund Freud could have field day psycho-analyzing that fellow! He must have had a very interesting childhood. Well, it probably tickles him when the lizard wriggles around. I don't know...to each his own!
17:45 December 9, 2009 by richard_vijay
I am speechless.Don't know what to say.
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