They hid it in socks. 3 thousand tarantulas were seized in suitcases

At Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, the capital of Peru, more than 3 thousand tarantulas were seized in plastic containers hidden in socks in the luggage of passengers preparing to board the plane to Germany.

Eggs of different species, baby spiders and adult tarantulas were detected in the suitcases of three passengers caught during the operation of the National Forest and Wildlife Service (SERFOR) and customs enforcement teams.

Authorities announced that two of the suspects stopped at the airport were German citizens and one was Polish citizen.

It was determined that the seized creatures included species protected by Peruvian laws, as well as new species that have not yet been described by the scientific world.

SPECIES THAT THE SCIENTIFIC WORLD HAS NOT YET RECORDED WERE FOUND IN THE SUITCASES

Cora Suárez, a wildlife control expert working within SERFOR, made an evaluation about the seized spiders.

Speaking to the Daily Mail newspaper, Suárez said: "The smugglers have made an extremely meticulous selection in order to obtain different species, some of which have not yet been identified by the scientific world."

Experts determined that the spiders carried belonged to the genera Pamphobeteus, Thrixopelma, Antikuna and Avicularia.

It was emphasized that Pamphobeteus antinous, which is among the species and considered one of the largest tarantulas in South America, is both listed in the sensitive category and under legal protection in Peru.

It has been recorded that this giant spider species, which can reach approximately 25 centimeters in length, reaches full maturity within two to three years.

Wildlife experts reported that the seized spiders belong to the group of "New World tarantulas" native to the American continent, their venom does not pose a mortal danger to humans, and their bites have effects similar to bee stings.