Police in Bari discovered an array of exotic and dangerous reptiles hidden beneath a false wall during a raid on an apartment block. The secret basement room had been converted into a clandestine reptile house, housing two green anacondas, each about five meters long and weighing around 60 kg, as well as a spectacled caiman over 1.5 meters in length.
The police statement also noted the presence of an Asian water monitor, known for its powerful jaws and potentially aggressive behavior, posing a real threat to public safety. Additionally, several other dangerous reptiles were seized, including a yellow anaconda, Bolivian anaconda, four Burmese pythons measuring approximately three meters each, and four boa constrictors.
The reptiles were found in the possession of a man with multiple criminal convictions who was currently untraceable. The police statement emphasized that the phenomenon of possessing exotic and particularly dangerous animals in criminal contexts is significant, often used as tools for intimidation or to display criminal power in the area.