Over 3,000 tarantula specimens were seized at the airport in Lima by National Forestry and Wildlife Service personnel. The arachnids, placed inside three suitcases belonging to two German citizens and a Polish citizen, had been hidden in some pairs of used socks. The goal was to get the tarantulas to Germany.
A tarantula sold for 500 euros
The alarm was triggered during routine customs checks by the anomalous movements detected inside the suitcases by the inspectors. According to what was reported by the organization’s technicians, the load included specimens at various stages of development, from eggs to adult individuals, coming from different regions of the Peruvian territory.
Based on the assessments provided by the environmental authorities, each tarantula can reach an indicative value of around 500 euros on the European market, configuring a total commercial value estimated at around 1.5 million euros for a single transport.
The three passengers involved were stopped by the police force responsible for environmental crimes and initiated into judicial proceedings.
According to Interpol findings, illegal wildlife trafficking globally generates an annual turnover estimated at 20 billion dollars, representing one of the main direct causes of the reduction of biodiversity and alteration of ecosystems at a global level.