Woman spotted walking awkwardly at an airport found with animals strapped to her legs

A woman spotted walking awkwardly at an airport was found to have 24 GERBILS (formally known as desert rats) strapped to her legs.

The Taiwanese woman was stopped at a customs checkpoint on the island of Kinmen after returning from a visit to China.

Coast Guard officials conducting routine security and customs checks noticed the woman was walking in an unusual manner.

The passenger was pulled to one side for questioning where officials discovered the shocking reason for her funny walk.

Individually wrapped in bags were 24 gerbils, strapped to the woman's legs and covered by a skirt.

The woman reportedly told customs officials she was smuggling the animals for friends and had purchased them at a pet store in China, according to local news station 97x.

But authorities believe she had been sent by a smuggling ring to test inspection procedures at the Taiwanese port.

The poor creatures were all eventually euthanized by vets in Thailand.

The 60-year-old was charged with violating the Infectious Animal Disease Prevention and Control Act.