A Russian national has been arrested at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport after customs officials found dozens of live snakes, frogs, coachroaches and lizards in his luggage.

Although the reptiles were not on the endangered species list, they had been stuffed into plastic boxes and were in the man’s rucksack, breaking animal welfare laws, the product safety board NVWA said in a statement.

Many of the reptiles were also extremely poisonous, including 26 lancehead vipers, and 10 of the 16 frogs.

The snakes and other reptiles have been handed over to experts for safe keeping while the authorities decide what to do with the man. He was travelling from Brazil to Russia with a stop-over at Schiphol when he was caught.