Customs officers were left stunned after discovering 116 live lizards hidden inside a woman’s jacket as she attempted to cross the Russian border.

The woman was travelling on a bus that was stopped at the Mamonovo-2 border checkpoint in Russia’s Kaliningrad region, near the border with Poland, on August 25. During a search, inspectors discovered dozens of small canvas pouches concealed within the lining of her jacket.

Each pouch contained between three and five live reptiles, with the animals measuring roughly 10 to 15cm in length. Officials eventually counted a total of 116 lizards. The woman could not provide the necessary paperwork permitting her to transport the animals.

Russian customs officials said she told inspectors that she had agreed to take the reptiles to Germany in exchange for payment. Experts later identified the animals as secret toadhead agamas. The unusual desert reptiles are protected in Russia and are listed in the country’s Red Data Book.

The species lives in sandy and desert environments across parts of Russia and Central Asia. The lizards are also known for a striking defensive behaviour. When threatened, they can flatten their bodies and open their mouths, revealing prominent folds of skin along the sides.

All 116 reptiles survived the journey to the border and were subsequently transferred to a local exotic animal rescue centre, according to customs officials. The woman now faces administrative proceedings over allegations that she concealed goods from customs inspection.

Under the relevant Russian legislation, she could face a fine of up to three times the value of the seized ‘goods’, while the reptiles could also be confiscated. Images released by customs officials show the large number of small reptiles after they were removed from the jacket.