Given how Geicos gecko has a keen appreciation for value, you would think that real life geckos would be attracted to cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages. Well, a German man decided to take cheap to a new level when he tried to smuggle 44 small geckos and skinks (commonly referred to as lizards) onto an international flight.
Hans Kubus, from Germany, was stopped by wildlife officials at the New Zealand Christchurch International Airport as he attempted to board an overseas flight and was found to be carrying these lizards in a hand sewn package concealed in his underwear.
Bet those geckos would have looked interesting if the passenger had been required to go through a full body scanner when passing through security.
Geckos are believed to be worth up to $2,800 apiece in Europe.
Kubas has been sentenced to prison in New Zealand for trying to export protected species without proper authorization. He admitted to trading in exploited species without a permit and hunting protected wildlife without authorization.
Kubas will spend 14 weeks in prison and must pay $3,540 fine before being deported to Germany, immediately after his release. He faced maximum penalties of six months in prison and a $355,000 fine.