A clandestine reptile house hidden behind a fake wall in a condominium basement. It is the shocking discovery made by the Carabinieri in Sannicandro di Bari, where an underground room had been transformed into an illegal structure for the detention of exotic and dangerous animals.
The operation, conducted by the CITES Unit of Bari with the support of the military of the Altamura Park, brought to light a veritable collection of large reptiles. The animals were hidden in improvised spaces without the minimum safety conditions, with a potential risk to public safety.
Anacondas, pythons and a caiman in a freezer
The most disturbing detail is the presence of gigantic specimens, including anacondas up to five meters long, capable of exerting an extremely high constriction force. In the underground room the military found an impressive variety of reptiles. Among these, a spectacled caiman over one and a half meters long stands out, kept in a chest freezer transformed into a makeshift aquarium. A precarious arrangement for a predator with powerful jaws and potentially aggressive behavior.
Also seized were two green anacondas of approximately five meters and 60 kilograms each, as well as a yellow and a Bolivian anaconda. Added to these are four Burmese pythons about three meters long and four boa constrictors, all animals capable of immobilizing prey by constriction.
In the clandestine reptile house there was also a large water monitor, a reptile with claws and a potentially dangerous bite. The specimens were held without the necessary documentation required by the CITES Convention, which protects protected species and regulates international trade.
Dangerous animals and risk for residents
According to investigators, the presence of these animals in a domestic context represented a real danger. Snakes of this size, if kept without adequate skills and facilities, can become extremely risky for both owners and neighbors.
The investigations highlighted conditions incompatible with the needs of the animals: narrow spaces, improvised environments and lack of adequate safety measures. A situation that led to the immediate seizure of all specimens, subsequently transferred to authorized facilities.
Behind the reptile house an untraceable criminal
The detention of the animals appears to be attributable to a person with multiple criminal convictions, currently untraceable, reported for illegal possession of exotic fauna and protected species. The investigators do not rule out that the reptiles could have been used as a tool of intimidation or display of power.
The operation is part of the activities to combat the illegal trafficking of exotic animals, a growing phenomenon considered to be of great social alarm. The seizure avoided possible risks for residents and guaranteed the transfer of the animals to suitable facilities, where they can receive adequate care and custody.
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