Man Attempts to Smuggle 5,000 Live Leeches Into Toronto Airport
Adding to the long list of strange and or disturbing things travelers have tried to sneak by airport security, we have a new entry that ranks in the higher end of the group: 5,000 live leeches.
The creepy crawlers were found at Toronto Pearson International Airport in the luggage of a Canadian man who had just returned from a trip to Russia. He was caught by a border patrol beagle that was on duty for the Canada Border Services Agency. When the dog took a seat next to the bag, Toronto airport security knew something was up. That's when they opened the luggage containing 5,000 live, slimy parasites.
Since the incident isn't public record (the ordeal actually occurred in October 2018 and the man is still awaiting trial), not much is known about the motive behind why the man attempted to sneak 5,000 leeches from Russia. However, National Geographic confirmed that he was charged for "illegally importing an internationally regulated species without obtaining the proper permits" rather than smuggling since he was not actively attempting to conceal the leeches.
