- Peruvian authorities discovered more than 3,000 tarantulas hidden in luggage
- The spiders were found at Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima
- Three foreign nationals were preparing to board a flight to Germany
- The tarantulas were packed into dirty socks
- Officials estimate the haul’s value at €1.5m
Peruvian authorities have discovered more than 3,000 tarantulas hidden in the luggage of three foreign nationals preparing to board a flight to Germany. During a routine customs check at Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, security personnel noticed unusual wriggling movements inside three suitcases. An anonymous tip-off had also alerted airport authorities.
The arachnids were tightly packed into labelled, dirty socks. The Peruvian National Forestry and Wildlife Service identified the carriers as two German nationals and one Polish citizen. The haul contained over 3,000 tarantulas native to several regions of Peru, spanning all stages of development from eggs and tiny hatchlings to full-grown adults.
Officials estimate that a single tarantula can sell for roughly €500 on the European black market, valuing the trafficking operation at an estimated €1.5m. The three individuals were detained by Peruvian police specialising in environmental crimes and face criminal prosecution for illegal wildlife trafficking.
