New York Man Sentenced for Smuggling Pythons in Pants

A New York man has been fined $5,000 and sentenced to one year of probation for attempting to smuggle three Burmese pythons from Canada to the U.S. by concealing them in his pants.

Calvin Bautista, 38, was caught attempting to smuggle the snakes through a U.S.-Canadian border crossing on a bus trip from Montreal to New York City.
The Burmese pythons, purchased in Canada for around $2,500, were concealed inside snake bags attached to the inside of Bautista's pants.
Burmese pythons are considered an invasive species in North America, posing threats to local ecosystems and wildlife.
The importation of Burmese pythons into the U.S. is regulated due to their potential harm to human beings and the environment.
Bautista did not have the required documentation to import the snakes, leading to his arrest and subsequent sentencing.