A woman carrying 130 toxic frogs was detained at Bogotá airport
A Brazilian traveler heading to São Paulo via Panama was arrested in Bogotá for trying to smuggle 130 poisonous Harlequin frogs, also known as dart frogs. The amphibians were in poor condition.
The woman, whose name has not been disclosed, was detained at El Dorado International Airport on January 29. The frogs, packed in small film canisters, were dehydrated and stressed, writes Independent.
The found animals are an endangered species. The bright coloration serves as a warning to predators that their skin is poisonous. This toxin can be fatal for small animals and also dangerous for humans.
According to the authorities, the woman was transporting the frogs to Brazil, where they could be sold to private collectors for up to $1,000 each. The total value of the smuggling is estimated at $130,000.
The detained woman claimed that the Harlequin frogs, just under 5 cm long, were a "gift" from a local community in southern Colombia.
She faces a fine of up to 56 million pesos (£11,300) for illegally possessing these animals and attempting to transport them to another location.