Peru Seizes 3,000 Tarantulas Hiding in Airport Suitcases

Peruvian authorities seized more than 3,000 tarantulas from checked luggage at the Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima on Wednesday.

The wildlife agency, SERFOR, stated that the insects were hidden in the baggage of two German nationals and one Polish national. The travelers were attempting to fly to Germany when the interception occurred. An anonymous tip to airport officials triggered the initial alert that led to the discovery.

Cora Suárez, the head of the SERFOR control post at the airport, confirmed the seizure in a public statement. The collection included adults, juveniles, and eggs. Suárez noted that the traffickers carefully selected various species, some of which remain undescribed by science. Authorities have identified examples of the Pamphobeteus Antinous, commonly known as the blue-footed tarantula. This species can reach 20 centimeters when its legs are fully extended and is native to the Amazon regions of Peru and Bolivia.

Under current Peruvian law, the Pamphobeteus Antinous is categorized as vulnerable and is legally protected. The three suspects are now facing criminal proceedings for the illegal trafficking of wild fauna. If the court determines that the animals belonged to a legally protected species, the potential prison sentence increases from three to five years to a range of four to seven years.

Officials have not yet determined the intended market for the seized animals. The Pamphobeteus Antinous primarily consumes insects. This seizure follows a similar incident in February when authorities rescued nearly 500 captive budgerigars, also known as catitas, from a house in the Amazon. Those birds were intended for sale both inside and outside Peru.

Peruvian police have previously intercepted tarantulas at the same airport. In 2024, officers arrested a South Korean national who was hiding 320 tarantulas in containers and bags beneath his clothing. The current case marks the largest such seizure at the facility.