Are You Sure You Want To Open that Bag?

Cairo Airport Customs officers detained a man bound for Saudi Arabia Thursday who was attempting to violate all kinds of export laws by smuggling a certain something in his carry-on bag.

Actually, a lot of somethings.

A whopping 700 live snakes, to be exact.

When security officers asked Yahia Rahim Tulba to open his bag, they were stunned when he told them what was in it first. He asked them not to come too close as he opened the bag and the officers, we're sure, readily complied with that order.

Among several species of snakes, hidden in small cloth sacks, were two poisonous cobras, according to the Associated Press.

The Egyptian told officers he hoped to sell the snakes in Saudi Arabia. Tulba was turned over to the prosecutor's office and his -- luggage -- was confiscated by police. He stands accused of violating export laws and endangering the lives of other passengers.

According to the customs officials, Tulba claimed the snakes are wanted by Saudis who display them in glass jars in shops, keep them as pets or sell them to research centers.

The street value of snakes is not known... nor was it immediately clear if Tulba is a Samuel L. Jackson fan...

FMI: www.cairo-airport.com