Federal officers found 60 exotic snakes, 52 of which are highly venomous, during a raid at a house in South Valley, Albuquerque, allegedly tied to a drug case.
New Mexico wildlife officers removed the snakes during the raid at the home last week. The video showed officers taking cobras, pit vipers, and mambas from the house: a black King Cobra and a Green Mamba from black trash cans.
A neighbor says there were clues that she was living next to a snakehouse since every trash day, they saw snakeskin would just fly out.
Meanwhile, court papers showed federal agents planned to arrest the man living at the home on the 15th during a cocaine deal. Agents raided the house on the 22nd.
Court papers allege the man who lives at the home sold cocaine to an undercover agent on multiple occasions before the arrest. Aside from 60 venomous snakes, agents recovered half a pound of cocaine and guns.
Daniel Robles, who lives nearby, said he watched the raid as crews kept coming back and forth, hauling everything all night.
Meanwhile, Predator and Prey Exotics Reptile Store manager Daeton Kuchinskas said he was shocked to find an inland taipan on the list of snakes.
He estimated that feeding the snakes could cost up to $600 per week, while some snakes could sell for up to $20,000 on the black market.
According to state law, people cannot own venomous snakes without a permit, and federal law also penalizes those who traffic venomous snakes.
Federal officers found 60 exotic snakes, 52 of which are highly venomous ones, during a raid at a house in South Valley, Albuquerque, allegedly tied to a drug case.
New Mexico wildlife officers removed the snakes during the raid at home last week. The video showed officers taking cobras, pit vipers, and mambas from the house: a black King Cobra and a Green Mamba from black trash cans.
A neighbor says there were clues that she was living next to a snakehouse since every trash day, they see snakeskin would just fly out.
Meanwhile, court papers showed federal agents planned to arrest the man living at the home on the 15th during a cocaine deal. Agents raided the house on the 22nd.
Court papers allege the man who lives at the home sold cocaine to an undercover agent on multiple occasions before the arrest. Aside from 60 venomous snakes, agents recovered half a pound of cocaine and guns.
Daniel Robles, who lives nearby, said he watched the raid as crews kept coming back and forth, hauling everything all night.
Meanwhile, Predator and Prey Exotics Reptile Store manager Daeton Kuchinskas said he was shocked to find an inland taipan on the list of snakes.
He estimated that feeding the snakes could cost up to $600 per week, while some snakes could sell for up to $20,000 on the black market.
According to state law, people cannot own venomous snakes without a permit, and federal law also penalizes those who traffic venomous snakes.
