The Green Scorpions and East London police uncovered an illegal exotic snake pit this week, recovering 11 illegally kept snakes.
The slithery bust happened on Monday, the same day the SAPS K9 Unit and the Green Scorpions pounced on two suspects in the East London city centre for being in possession of a 2m boa constrictor.
Ellias Jabii, 34, and Obrie Mtuwa, 39, were arrested in terms of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (Nemba).
Section 71 (1) criminalises those found in possession of an invasive species without a permit, said East London police spokesperson Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala.
The two were arrested after the police were tipped off about a black Golf GTI with a “big” snake in the boot.
Manager of the Venom Pit Snake Park on the N6, Juan Marillier, who captured the snake, identified it as a Columbian boa constrictor, an alien invasive species snake.
“The snake has been placed into our care at the Venom Pit Snake Park.”
It is 11km from East London on the Stutterheim road.
“These snakes can be obtained easily in the reptile pet trade in SA, with baby Columbian boas costing as little as R300 and an adult from R1,500.”
Marillier, who has kept the snake in his care, confirmed that the East London police had handed over 11 more exotic snakes to his park. Senior investigating officer at the Green Scorpions, Ricky Hannan, confirmed that more alien invasive species snakes had been recovered by his officials and the police from a house in the city centre, not far from where the two men were arrested with the boa constrictor.
In a response sent via Whats App on Tuesday, Hannan said: “I know there were two cases yesterday [Monday], the one where the police arrested the suspects and another in the same vicinity where the environmental affairs staff found more snakes in captivity without permits.”
Marillier said an Alien Invasive Species (AIS) permit was required to keep such snakes.
Hannan could not disclose more information about the snakes but Marillier confirmed receiving the 11 alien invasive snakes.
Marillier said boas preyed upon rats and mice and that the law required that the reptiles be inserted with microchips, in order to track their movements in case they escaped from captivity.
Marillier said the Columbian boa which was recovered from the two suspects amid drama on Monday, was in an excellent condition and was “definitely looked after prior to being placed in our care”...