Second Time This Happened This Year

Haven't we already seen this movie? A Saudi Arabian man was stopped by security recently at Cairo International Airport, when he tried to board a flight home with carry-on luggage filled with live snakes... and bady crocodiles... and chameleons.

The Associated Press reports officials became suspicious when the 22-year-old man's luggage gave "odd readings" as it passed through the X-ray machine. When screeners opened the bags, they discovered an unpleasant surprise... a bunch of reptiles, all trying to escape.

The animals -- which included at least one cobra, according to the AP -- were turned over to the Cairo Zoo. And then, somewhat oddly... the man was allowed to board his flight home.

Officials cleared the man after speaking with him. The man told authorities the reptiles were needed by a Saudi university for scientific experiments... and that he was unaware of a ban on transporting live reptiles out of Egypt.

We're not sure which is more disturbing: that this incident took place, or that it has happened before. As ANN reported, in May another Saudi man was stopped in Cairo for trying to sneak 700 live snakes out of the country -- ostensibly to be used as pets, or to be displayed by storekeepers in jars.

Where's Samuel L. Jackson when you need him?

FMI: www.cairo-airport.com