3,000 Tarantulas Seized at Lima Airport
Peruvian officials arrested three tourists for hiding large Amazonian spiders in their luggage.
By Aiko Sato ·
Peruvian authorities seized more than 3,000 tarantulas at the Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima on Wednesday. The spiders were hidden in the luggage of two German nationals and one Polish citizen who were preparing to fly to Germany.
The Service for National Forestry and Wildlife (SERFOR) initiated the investigation after receiving an anonymous tip. Officials detained the three travelers at the airport checkpoint. They now face criminal proceedings for illegal wildlife trafficking.
Cora Suárez, the head of the SERFOR control post, stated that the cargo included eggs, hatchlings, and adults. She noted that the traffickers carefully selected various species. Some of the spiders had not yet been described by science.
Experts identified several specimens as Pamphobeteus Antinous, also known as blue-legged tarantulas. These spiders can reach 20 centimeters in leg span. They are native to the Amazon regions of Peru and Bolivia. Peruvian law classifies them as vulnerable and legally protected.
Authorities have not determined the final destination of the animals. The suspects could face three to five years in prison for illegal trafficking. If the court confirms they were transporting protected species, the sentence could increase to four to seven years.
This incident follows a February rescue where officials recovered nearly 500 captive parakeits destined for sale. In 2024, police also arrested a South Korean national at the same airport with 320 tarantulas concealed in bags and containers beneath his clothing.
