A man stunned customs officials at a border crossing when he was caught trying to smuggle 14 live snakes that he stuffed inside his pockets.

The unnamed passenger was reportedly caught by customs officials at Futian Port, a port of entry on the border between mainland China and Hong Kong, located in Shenzhen, in south-eastern China.

Agents at Huanggang Customs – on the Chinese side of the border – reportedly noticed the incoming passenger acting anxiously and dodging their looks.

They intercepted the man and began inspecting his belongings.

Shockingly, they found he was carrying 14 live snakes wrapped in cotton socks and stockings were found in his trousers.

Three of the serpents were ball pythons – also known as royal pythons – a small African species that is listed as ‘near threatened’ on the ICUN Red List.

Video footage shows the man, dressed in black clothing and a white cap, nervously checking his pockets while standing at the checkpoint.

The footage then cuts to customs agents joggling the socks and the curled-up snakes dropping outside.

Then, they carefully separate them and place them inside plastic containers before handing them over to authorities.

The Customs Department did not specify if the man would be faced with any consequences.

Some 1 million people in China own exotic pets, according to a 2017 report.

According to Chinese law, animals that are transported in and out of the country first must be quarantined and inspected by authorities in order to prevent invasive alien species and protect ecological security.