Vietnamese find snakes on a train

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QUANG NGAI, Vietnam, May 30 (UPI) -- Authorities in the Vietnamese province of Quang Ngai said four bags of venomous cobras were found hidden beneath passenger seats on a train.

Quang Ngai Railway Station security officers said a large number of snakes were discovered concealed in four opaque bags on the Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi train when it stopped at the station Thursday, VietnamNet reported Monday.

Investigators said the snake smugglers apparently left the train while the security officers were retrieving the bags of snakes.

The Quang Ngai Forest Protection Department said the snakes, identified as protected cobras and king cobras, will be released back into the wild.

Authorities said the smugglers may have been planning to sell the reptiles to restaurants.