CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- New Zealand authorities said a German tourist pleaded guilty to smuggling geckos and skinks in his underwear.

Authorities said customs officers stopped Hans Kurt Kubusn, 58, Sunday at Christchurch International Airport and discovered 43 endangered geckos and skinks hidden in a package concealed in his underwear and another was hidden in a rolled sock in his luggage, Radio New Zealand reported Thursday.


Investigators said Kubusn was attempting to smuggle the animals native to New Zealand back to Germany.

Kubusn pleaded guilty in Christchurch District Court to five counts of trading in exploited species and two counts of hunting protected wildlife. He was released on bail and is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 25.