Peru seizes over 3,000 tarantulas hidden in socks bound for Germany

Some of the socks were moving. That is how a routine customs check at Lima airport turned into a major wildlife bust.

Peruvian authorities seized more than 3,000 tarantulas that were about to be flown illegally to Germany, the national forest and wildlife service Serfor announced. The spiders were stuffed into used socks inside three suitcases carried by two German citizens and one Pole.

"When we started the manual search, we noticed that some of the socks were moving," said Serfor technician Cora Suárez. The spiders came from several regions of Peru and ranged from eggs to young ones to adults. Agents collected them in plastic containers.

The three foreigners were arrested by the police unit specialised in environmental crime. Prosecutors are now handling a criminal case.

Why go to such lengths? In Europe, a tarantula can sell for around 500 euros each. According to Interpol, illegal wildlife trafficking generates about 20 billion dollars a year worldwide and is a major driver of biodiversity loss.