Police in Germany were left shocked after they found a box full of fried bats in the van of an immigrant driver who said they were a snack.
The bizarre find was made after cops in the city of Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia State, in Germany, pulled over the 31-year-old Ivory Coast immigrant from Italy on Monday morning, 10th April.
But they were in for a huge surprise after they opened the van and found nearly a tonne (2,204 lbs) of unrefrigerated stinky fish packed inside carton boxes as well as the deep fried bats in another cardboard box hidden under the fish.
Police spokesperson Bernd Kueppers said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: “They immediately called the responsible office for Consumer Protection, Animal Welfare and Veterinary Affairs.
“They sent a vet on call to Aachen-Brand, who analysed the transport on site.
“She ordered a confiscation of the unrefrigerated food and fried bats.
“In addition, the federal police seized the transporter due to the lack of registration and the lack of insurance cover. “
Meanwhile, the 31-year-old driver – who had reportedly entered Germany without possessing an ID and a valid driver’s license – was reported for illegal entry and violating road traffic laws.
The man is currently also awaiting proceedings for violations of food hygiene laws.
Police spokesman Bernd Kueppers said: “The responsible office of the city region is currently checking whether he also violated the species protection law because of the fried bats.”
Judges from the Aachen District Court ordered a preventive custody for the Ivory Coast national, before his handover to Italian authorities.
The fish and bats were destroyed immediately, according to the police spokesman.
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Story By: Georgina Jadikovska, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Newsflash
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