BOGOTA, Colombia (KFOR) – Police detained a woman at an airport in Bogota, Colombia, after finding 130 poisonous frogs in her suitcase.
The woman, who was not identified by name, had attempted to travel through the El Dorado Airport with 130 harlequin poison frogs concealed in tiny jars. The frogs, which belong to an endangered species native to Colombia, are considered one of the most poisonous amphibian species in the world, police said.
Officials say the 37-year-old suspect was trying to smuggle the frogs on a flight bound for Sao Paulo, Brazil.
“This endangered species is sought after in international markets by collectors who pay up to a thousand dollars for each frog, taking into account its exotic beauty and origin, which in the case of Colombia are unique and inhabit the humid tropical forests of the region,” the National Police of The Republic of Colombia stated in a news release.
Police said the woman claimed the frogs were a gift from the people of Narino, in the western portion of Colombia. Officers indicated they were suspicious of the claim due to the number of frogs found, among other factors.
The suspect is facing charges associated with wildlife trafficking, according to the release.
The frogs, which were said to be hours away from suffocating in the jars, were transported to a wildlife group for treatment.
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