Crime & Justice
Peru seizes 3,000 tarantulas hidden in dirty socks at Lima airport
November 6, 2026 at 01:54 PM
Coverage
2 reports · 1 in Arabic, 1 in English · over 12 hours
Peruvian authorities say customs agents found the spiders wriggling in three suitcases carried by two German and one Polish passenger bound for Germany.
- SERFOR said the spiders, collected from several regions of Peru, were found in stages ranging from eggs and hatchlings to adults.
- Police specialising in environmental crimes detained the three Europeans, who will face criminal proceedings, SERFOR said.
- A SERFOR wildlife control technician said one tarantula sells for about €500 in Europe, putting the shipment's potential value near €1.5m.