53 king cobras in car seized by Vietnamese police

Vietnamese police seized dozens of king cobras after they were discovered in a car stopped for violating traffic laws Friday.

Nguyen Van Hai told police he had been hired by a person named Hop to transport the 53 snakes from the northern province of Vinh Phuc to Hanoi, according to the Vietnam News Agency

Hai said he was paid 1 million Vietnamese dong (about $47) to deliver the snakes, which are banned from sale in Vietnam.

Another man was reportedly in the car and fled when Hai was pulled over.