When Florida Highway Patrol officers made a routine traffic stop in Polk county, they were treated to a cold-blooded sight — 13 live, zip-tied iguanas in the truck bed.
The FHP troopers pulled over 32-year-old Rendon Casildo-Acdiel around 6:30 a.m. on April 30 because his Ford F150 truck didn’t have a light for the license plate on the utility trailer he was towing, troopers said.
But after a search of the truck, they discovered the lizards in a haphazard pile with their feet zipped together, according to local news outlet Fox 13.
The driver was also toting five coolers of iced tilapia.
Casildo-Acdiel told troopers he was visiting the Sunshine State to get coconuts from Miami and fish from Polk County, and then he was heading back home to North Carolina, according to Fox 13.
However, according to FHP, this “seemed to be a lot of travel for items which could have been more easily obtained in North Carolina,” reported Polk County’s News Channel 8.
After conducting a check cops discovered that Casildo-Acdiel had a suspended Georgia license and no Florida license.
When questioned, Casildo-Acdiel told the troopers he had failed to complete court requirements in Georgia for a ticket and was aware that his license was suspended, authorities said.
Casildo-Acdiel was arrested and now faces a charge of driving with a suspended license, according to FOX 13.
A check also showed that the driver had outstanding warrants from three different agencies.
The iguanas were reportedly taken to a local shelter.
It remains unclear if Casildo-Acdiel will be charged in connection with the reptiles.
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