He committed suicide by having a venomous snake bite him after being caught by police

28-year-old Marius Joubert, who was caught trying to smuggle animals from Thailand to South Africa, committed suicide by having a venomous snake bite him during a police search of his home.  

Stating that the animals were hungry and he wanted to feed them while police were searching his house, Joubert reached into a cage containing a venomous cobra and had it bite him twice.

The man collapsed within minutes and could not be saved despite all interventions.

HE COMMITTED SUICIDE INSTEAD OF FACING 25 YEARS IN PRISON

In South Africa, where animal smugglers face very harsh penalties, it is estimated that the suspect Joubert was facing at least 25 years in prison and therefore chose to commit suicide rather than go to jail. 

"THERE IS NO ANTIVENOM FOR THAT SNAKE SPECIES"

Chief Police Inspector Reinet Meyer, who was on duty during the incident, stated in her explanation that Joubert was brought to his home from the police station in handcuffs, but the handcuffs were removed to allow him to assist officers due to the presence of many venomous animals in the house.

Meyer also noted that Joubert had himself bitten by an Indochinese spitting cobra, a highly venomous species foreign to South Africa, and that there is no antivenom for this snake species in the country. 

70 DIFFERENT ANIMALS SEIZED 

During the search of Joubert's home, police teams seized a total of 70 different animals, including crocodiles, iguanas, monitor lizards, tarantulas, hedgehogs, and ferrets.

The animals were later taken under protection by teams from the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital.

An investigation into the incident has been launched. 

News Source: 12punto