Lima airport officials seize 3,100 tarantulas from three tourists
Peruvian authorities arrested two Germans and a Pole after discovering a large cache of spiders, including some undetected species, hidden in luggage bound for Europe.
By Neha Kapoor ·
Travelers passing through the main international airport in Lima, Peru, faced a disruption on Wednesday as officials detained three foreign nationals. The arrest stemmed from the discovery of more than 3,000 tarantulas concealed within their luggage. The group included two citizens of Germany and one from Poland.
The incident began when Peruvian authorities received an anonymous tip regarding suspicious activity. Acting on this information, the National Service of Forestry and Wildlife (SERFOR) intercepted the passengers at Jorge Chávez International Airport. Officials confirmed that the three individuals were taken into custody to face criminal charges related to wildlife trafficking.
Cora Suárez, who leads the SERFOR checkpoint at the airport, detailed the composition of the seized animals. The collection contained a mix of eggs, juveniles, and adults. She noted that the traffickers had carefully selected various species, some of which had not yet been formally described by science.
Among the identified specimens were Pamphobeteus Antinous, also known as blue-footed tarantulas. Experts state these spiders can measure up to 20 centimeters across their extended legs. They are native to the Amazon regions of Peru and Bolivia and are classified as vulnerable under national law.
Under Peruvian statutes, the three suspects face potential prison terms of three to five years for illegal wildlife trafficking. If prosecutors prove the animals were protected species, the sentence could increase to four to seven years. Authorities have not yet determined the intended use of the seized tarantulas.
This seizure follows a similar incident in February, when officials rescued nearly 500 wild birds from a house in the Amazon. Those birds, known as brotogeris versicolurus, were being prepared for sale both domestically and abroad.
In 2024, police at the same airport arrested a South Korean national who carried 320 tarantulas hidden in containers and bags beneath his clothing. The current case marks the latest effort by Peruvian agencies to curb the illicit trade of Amazonian fauna.
