A Saudi passenger carried four snakes including a python in his hand luggage in an eight hour flight between Indonesia and UAE, with most of his fellow travellers blissfully unaware of the danger.

The man was arrested at Abu Dhabi International airport security checkpoint when his Etihad Airlines flight landed from Jakarta last Thursday, police said. His menagerie, included four snakes, two parrots and a squirrel inside a box, The National reported quoting Abu Dhabi airport police who said the animals were not licenced for international transport.