MEXICO, January 19 (RIA Novosti) - A routine inspection of a prison in the eastern Mexican city of Chetumal led to an unexpected discovery after policemen found a crocodile in one of the prison cells, local police reported on Friday.

The crocodile, which was kept by inmates as a pet, was freed and let go and policemen are trying to find out now how the reptile ended up in a prison cell.

The same inspection also resulted in the discovery of 28 roosters which prisoners kept for fun and staged cockfighting.

According to the Quintana Roo state police, the main aim of the prison inspection was to find forbidden items, such as weapons and drugs, but they never expected to discover a reptile and birds.