A man was caught at the US border with 52 lizards and snakes hidden in his clothing.
A man attempted to smuggle lizards into the United States
The unnamed man was driving a truck when he was pulled out for additional inspection at the San Ysidro crossing in California last month where officials discovered the large number of reptiles.
According to US Customs and Border Protection, the creatures "were concealed in the man's jacket, pants pockets and groin area".
Nine snakes and 43 horned lizards were seized at the border and some of the species are considered to be endangered.
Sidney Aki, Customs and Border Protection director of field operations in San Diego, said: "Smugglers will try every possible way to try and get their product, or in this case live reptiles, across the border.
"In this occasion, the smuggler attempted to deceive CBP officers in order to bring these animals into the US, without taking care for the health and safety of the animals."
The smuggler, a 30-year-old US citizen, was arrested.