53 King Cobras in Car: Police Seize Dozens of Snakes from Vietnamese Driver in Hanoi, Man Arrested

According to reports from Vietnamese police, a man transporting 53 king cobras in his car was arrested in the nation's capital of Hanoi. It turns out that king cobra meat is a delicacy in the pacific nation, and the snakes' skin is used to make fancy belts. Sometimes the snakes are preserved for tradition medicine as well. Hunting and trading of king cobras are banned in Vietnam.

It looks like these 53 king cobras were saved from a terrible fate since their meat is a rare and illegal delicacy to some in Vietnam. Thankfully, the man transporting them was caught and the dozens of snakes have since been returned to the wild after spending some time at a wildlife rescue center near the capital. They were all packed together in large bags, but they were all treated and then released back into the wild.

The man that transported them into the capital told officers that he was paid under $50 for the task. Unfortunately for him, less than $50 will not cover his bail considering the trading (and hunting) of king cobras is illegal in the nation.

King cobras are the longest venomous snakes. They can grow up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) in length.