Man attempts to smuggle 3 king cobra snakes into U.S. via potato chip cans

A California man could face jail time for smuggling dangerous snakes into the U.S. via some dinky little potato chip canisters.

Per a statement from the Department of Justice, Rodrigo Franco of Monterey Park was taken into custody Tuesday morning for attempting to illegally bring three king cobras into the United States from Hong Kong.

The United States Customs and Border Protection officials intercepted the package on March 2 and seized the venomous animals shortly thereafter. Each snake was about two feet in length, though king cobras can grow to measure about 18 feet. The package also contained three albino Chinese softshell turtles.

This is not, apparently, Franco's first attempt to smuggle king cobras into the United States. He apparently admitted to authorities that previous attempts to fly in king cobras led to the reptiles' deaths in transit.

Franco has been charged with illegally smuggling merchandise into the country and could face up to 20 years in prison should he be found guilty.