A Queensland cop got a "real shock'' when he discovered a saltwater croc stashed behind the driver's seat of a truck stopped in the state's south west this week.
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The 34cm crocodile was found in a cardboard box, according to Constable Matt Hawkins who described it as one of the strangest things he had ever seen on the job.
He said the 24-year-old male driver from the Northern Territory was transporting the crocodile to Maroochydore, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, for a friend when he was stopped at Mitchell about 10.40am on Monday.
"He was carting the baby croc for his friend and the friend's intention was to have it as a pet for his children," said Constable Hawkins who also allegedly found two grams of marijuana and bong during the search of the truck.
Department of National Parks officers were called in and took the croc to a holding facility in Toowoomba, pending putting out the call to find a home for the animal either at a zoo or crocodile farm.
The driver will appear in Mitchell Magistrates Court on August 25 on three charges, including taking a protected animal and drug and utensil possession.
Read more at the Sunshine Coast Daily.
