Authorities in India said an Indian krait snake like the one pictured here was found in the luggage of a traveler at Cochin Airport. Photo by Jayendra Chiplunkar/Wikimedia Commons

Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Authorities in India said an X-ray scan of an airport passenger's carry-on luggage revealed an illegal item -- a venomous snake.

Central Industrial Security Force screeners at Cochin Airport said the carry-on luggage of a passenger bound for Abu Dhabi was scanned in an X-ray machine, which found a snake inside the bag.


The snake was believed to be a juvenile Indian krait, one of the most venomous species in the country.

Officials said the passenger was initially arrested, but was later released when police determined he had bought a bag of potatoes from a farmer before setting off on his trip and the snake had stowed away with the tubers without the man's knowledge.