Lizards allegedly found in airport baggage. Picure: Australian Customs and Border Protection Service

Lizard concealed in a sock. Picure: Australian Customs and Border Protection Service

X-ray of reptiles allegedly concealed in airport baggage last week. Picure: Australian Customs and Border Protection Service

Detectives are investigating the theft of a large number of exotic animals, including endangered snakes and spiders, from a warehouse in Merimbula.The animals were snatched from their enclosures last weekend during a break-in at the warehouse on Arthur Kaine Dr.

Full list of the stolen exotic animalsAnimals stolen in the raid include a rare albino Tasmanian brushtail possum, an endangered albino python, an adult desert bird eating spider and an adult forest whistling spider.Police are examining links between the break-in and a seizure of rare animals at Sydney Airport last Friday.A 24-year-old Sydney man was arrested at the airport after customs officers allegedly detected live animals on an X-ray machine before the man's flight to Bangkok.Customs officers allegedly opened the man's bags and found 24 shingleback lizards, 16 bluetongue lizards and three endangered black headed pythons concealed in socks and cloth bags.The total reptile haul was worth up to $200,000 on the black market, customs said.The man was charged with trying to export native species without a permit and will face a Sydney court on March 24.Specialist forensics police examined the Merimbula warehouse for evidence, and detectives are now appealing for information from the public about the theft.Anyone who has information can contact Merimbula Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Animal heist: Exotic snakes, spiders stolen in Merimbula

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