Customs staff found 92 reptiles in a single suitcase.
The bag held 37 venomous snakes, plus 55 lizards.
Animals sat in shampoo bottles, cream boxes, and rolled-up socks.
The haul included vipers, rattlesnakes, and iguanas.
Officers stopped a nervous man at the green channel.
The 45-year-old had flown from Mexico City via Istanbul.
About 30 animals died during or after the long trip.
The rest now get care at a reptile facility in Germany.
The man was denied entry and flown back to Istanbul.
He said he carried the animals for a Brazilian acquaintance.
Germany made over 1,300 wildlife seizures last year.
Tap to read the full explainer in simple words.
Get the full breakdown, key numbers, and what happens next.
Read on Rive News