A woman trying to smuggle baby crocodiles strapped to her waist at the Gaza-Egypt border was caught after the officials became suspicious of her strangly bulging body. According to the officials, even though the woman was wearing a loose robe to hide the bulges, she looked "strangely fat" causing the policewoman at Rafah crossing to search her.

Maria Telleria, a spokeswoman for European observers who run the terminal, said the incident happened Thursday after a policewoman at the crossing became suspicious and ordered her to submit to a search.

A strip search revealed three baby reptiles, each about 20 inches long, tied around her waist with their jaws shut, she told the Associated Press.

According to Wael Dahab, a spokesman for the Palestinian guards at the crossing, the crocs were apparently bound for sale to Gaza zoo or private owners.

It is not the first time that a traveler had attempted to smuggle in exotic animals, Dahab told the Associated Press, adding that a woman was caught trying to smuggle a monkey tied to her chest, and in another incident a traveler tried to cross the border with a tiger cub.