A GUEST at a Dutch hotel found a live, 2.5 metre python in her toilet, alerting authorities who arrested four people for illegally trading in rare animals, it was reported today.

In yesterday's incident the snake is believed to have slithered up the drain from a room below, where authorities discovered about 30 exotic animals, ANP reported, quoting the police.

The animals included snakes, geckos, frogs, salamanders and a baby crocodile.

Most were in boxes and bags, but two geckos were walking around freely in the room where police arrested three men and a women, all from Rome.