Travelers caught smuggling over 3,000 tarantulas in socks at Peru airport

More than 3,000 tarantulas were found hidden inside socks packed in the luggage of three European travelers at an airport in Callao, Peru, as they prepared to board a flight to Germany, WRAL reported. The travelers included two German citizens and one Polish citizen. The spiders were discovered during a routine check-in after authorities received an anonymous tip, according to WRAL and other sources.

The National Forestry and Wildlife Service (SERFOR) stated that the tarantulas were concealed in dozens of socks spread across three suitcases, with each suitcase containing between 15 and 22 socks. The seized spiders included various species in different stages of development, from eggs and juveniles to adults, noted wildlife forestry control technician Cora Suarez.

The tarantulas belonged to the Brachypelma, Pamphobeteus, and Avicularia genera, which are prized for their appearance and value in the exotic pet trade. Among them was Pamphobeteus antinous, one of South America's largest tarantulas, which is legally protected in Peru, WRAL reported.

SERFOR officials indicated the spiders may have been intended for collectors, research, or the exotic pet trade. One of the suspects could be a prominent tarantula researcher, according to the investigation. The three travelers were detained by Peru's environmental crimes police and now face criminal proceedings led by a specialized environmental prosecutor’s office.

In Peru, wildlife trafficking carries a prison sentence of three to five years, increasing to seven years if protected species are involved, according to TVP World cited by WRAL. Authorities continue to investigate the origins and intended destination of the tarantulas, highlighting the ongoing challenge of wildlife trafficking through international airports.