Lima (AFP) – Peruvian authorities seized more than 3,000 tarantulas at the Lima airport about to be illegally taken by air to Germany, the National Forestry and Wildlife Service (Serfor) informed AFP this Thursday.

First modification: 06/11/2026 - 17:16

Hidden in used socks, the tarantulas were found in three suitcases carried by two German citizens and a Pole. The seizure was made during a routine customs inspection.

"At the time of doing the physical touch we saw that some were moving. There were small and large ones," said Cora Suárez, forestry and wildlife control technician at the institution.

The specialist indicated that the arachnids, coming from various regions of the country, were found in different states, from eggs and babies to adult specimens.

The animals were collected by agents specialized in plastic packaging, according to a video released by the authority.

The three foreigners were detained by the police specialized in environmental crimes and face criminal proceedings by the prosecutor's office, according to Serfor.

Due to its high value, illegal wildlife trafficking is a very lucrative illicit activity. It mobilizes about 20 billion dollars annually globally, according to Interpol.

This traffic is one of the main causes of the loss of biodiversity on the planet.

© 2026 AFP

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