The Catalyst

By Joel Mashburn, Reporter

Hans Kurt Kubus, a 58-year-old German citizen, was caught boarding a plane at Christchurch International Airport on Sunday night. Kubus had an assortment of 44 geckos and skinks hidden in his underwear. In his underwear, New Zealand Customs Service staff found a compartment with eight different slots. Each slot contained different specie of gecko or skin. Customs also found a single gecko rolled up in a sock within his suitcase.

Out of the 15 stolen adult female geckos 14 were pregnant, 12 out of 14 skinks were pregnant. All of the females are estimated to give birth to live offspring in the next few weeks. Al l species of lizard are endangered.

Animal smuggling is an estimated 8 billion dollar industry. It is only third on the list of illegal trade, right below drugs and weapons.

Kubus pleaded guilty to five charges of trading in exploited species and two accounts of hunting absolutely protected wildlife.