Peruvian authorities seized more than 3,000 tarantulas hidden in dirty socks in three suitcases at Jorge Chávez International Airport. The spiders were bound for Germany and could have been worth around €1.5 million.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Peruvian airport officials seized more than 3,000 tarantulas hidden inside dirty socks in three suitcases at Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, according to the National Forestry and Wildlife Service (SERFOR).
The spiders were being carried by two German citizens and a Polish citizen on a flight to Germany, SERFOR told Agence France-Presse. Officers noticed unusual movement inside the luggage during a routine customs inspection.
"We noticed that some of them were moving. There were small ones and large ones," said Cora Suarez, a SERFOR wildlife control technician.
The tarantulas came from several regions of Peru and were found in varying stages of development, from eggs and hatchlings to adults.
One tarantula can sell for about €500 ($560) in Europe, Suarez said, meaning the scheme would be potentially worth €1.5 million for one trip.
The three Europeans accused of smuggling the tarantulas were detained by police specialising in environmental crimes and will face criminal proceedings, SERFOR said.
Illegal wildlife trafficking generates around $20 billion annually worldwide, according to Interpol, and is among the primary causes of the loss of biodiversity on the planet.
The case illustrates how traffickers conceal protected wildlife in luggage and move it across borders, and it highlights the scale and value of the illegal wildlife trade.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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