A man in Peru was apprehended after his noticeably bulging attire revealed the hundreds of tarantulas he had strapped to his body while trying to exit the country.
On November 8, security personnel at Lima’s Jorge Chavez International Airport apprehended a 28-year-old South Korean man suspected of smuggling. His unusually swollen stomach raised suspicions as he went through the security checkpoint, according to a statement from Peru’s National Forest and Wildlife Service (SERFOR).
An unidentified man was requested to lift his shirt, exposing two belts decorated with camouflaged bags and packages filled with tarantulas and various insects, as reported by the wildlife service.
Experts from the government agency subsequently compiled the hidden creatures, recording a total of 35 adult tarantulas, 285 juvenile tarantulas, 110 centipedes, and nine bullet ants.
The adult tarantulas were noted to be the size of a human hand, each occupying a sizable plastic container, while the younger ones were housed in small tubes tightly packed at both ends to ensure they couldn’t escape, as depicted in images of the seized specimens.
According to Walter Silva, a wildlife specialist at SERFOR, all of the creatures originate from the Peruvian Amazon, and notably, the tarantulas are classified as endangered species in Peru.
The organization is of the opinion that they were taken from Madre de Dios, a region rich in biodiversity, with its forests constituting 12% of the Peruvian Amazon, as stated by the World Wildlife Fund.
Silva expressed his conviction that the unlawfully obtained insects are linked to an international market where wildlife is trafficked and sold at exorbitant prices, raking in millions of dollars.
He also noted that instances of smuggling like this become more frequent as the holiday approaches since unlawfully traded animals often command higher prices during this time of year.
A smuggler was reportedly en route to Korea, with a scheduled stop in France, as stated in the official announcement.
A man has been apprehended by the National Police of Peru, prompting the Environmental Prosecutor’s Office to initiate an investigation into the matter.
The animals have been relocated from their cramped conditions to a secure environment, according to SERFOR.
Source: Man Caught Smuggling 320 Tarantulas and 110 Centipedes Out of Peru by Strapping Them to His Body
