Peruvian authorities located and seized more than 3,000 tarantulas at the capital’s airport, just before they were to be illegally flown to Germany, the French News Agency reported, citing the relevant agency.
Hidden inside used socks, the tarantulas were found in three pieces of luggage belonging to three passengers—two German nationals and one Polish national—according to the Peruvian Forest and Wildlife Service (SERFOR).
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Center-left candidate Hitler Mussolini was elected mayor in Peru
“As we were conducting a manual inspection, we noticed that some (socks) were moving,” described Cora Suárez, a technician with the agency.
Authorities in Peru seized more than 3,000 tarantulas hidden inside socks packed in the suitcases of two German citizens and a Polish citizen who were preparing to board a flight to Germany, officials said. The three individuals were detained and face criminal proceedings, authorities said.
— CBS News (@CBSNews) November 5, 2026
The expert added that the arachnids, from various regions of the country, ranged from eggs to very young specimens, though there were also some adult specimens.
The hidden arachnids were collected by agency experts in plastic containers, according to a video released by SERFOR.
— Serfor Perú (@SerforPeru) November 5, 2026
#LoÚltimo. El Serfor y Aduanas incautaron en el Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Chávez más de 3000 tarántulas que eran transportadas de manera oculta dentro de equipajes de ciudadanos extranjeros, quienes tenían previsto viajar a Alemania.
Los infractores fueron detenidos por la Policía Nacional del Perú (PNP) y se les abrirá un proceso administrativo sancionador.
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The three foreign nationals were arrested by a police unit specializing in the prosecution of environmental crimes, and the prosecutor’s office is preparing a case file against them, in accordance with the law.
Tarantulas are sold illegally in Europe for up to 500 euros each. Due to their high monetary value, the smuggling of wildlife products is often highly profitable.
It is estimated to generate $20 billion annually worldwide, according to Interpol.
This smuggling is considered one of the main reasons for the decline in the planet’s biodiversity.
Source: Proto Thema
