Snakes, not snacks: deadly cobras smuggled from Hong Kong to California in potato chip cans

In a classic practical joke, the prankster offers their target a can of snacks - only for a fake spring-loaded snake to burst out of the tin.

But US Customs officers discovered the real thing this year while inspecting a package on its way from Hong Kong to a California apartment: three highly venomous king cobra snakes, each about 60cm long, hidden in potato chip cans.

On Tuesday, the alleged intended recipient — Rodrigo Franco, 34, of Monterey Park — was arrested on a federal smuggling charge after a months-long investigation that also involved the seizure of a young crocodile, three alligator snapping turtles and five diamond back terrapins, all of which are protected species, federal officials said.

For months, according to federal court records, Franco used WhatsApp, a smartphone messaging platform, to negotiate shipments of snakes and turtles to and from Hong Kong.

In March, authorities intercepted the package with the three deadly snakes along with three albino Chinese soft-shelled turtles. That same day, Franco had attempted to mail six other turtles wrapped in socks to Hong Kong. That package also was intercepted.

A day later, a postal worker delivered the package with the turtles shipped from Hong Kong to Franco’s Monterey Park home. Authorities had removed the cobras from the package, noting that delivering them posed a safety risk.