Airport workers in Callao, Peru, seized over 3,000 tarantulas found stuffed inside socks within travelers' luggage. The discovery was made at Jorge Chavez International Airport on Tuesday, following an anonymous tip.
Airport employees discovered the extensive collection of arachnids in the suitcases of three passengers. The spiders, ranging from eggs to fully grown adults, were packed into 15 to 20 socks per bag. Officials from Peru’s National Forestry and Wildlife Service (SERFOR) believe the individuals, identified as two Germans and one Polish citizen, intended to smuggle the tarantulas to Germany for sale to collectors.
Cora Suarez, a wildlife forestry control technician with SERFOR, noted that tarantulas can be valuable to collectors due to their colors and size. The three passengers were detained by Peru’s environmental crimes police and now face prosecution.
This incident is not the first time exotic creatures have been intercepted during air travel. In 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized over three dozen live beetles disguised as snacks in a shipment arriving at Los Angeles International Airport from Japan. Those insects were also reportedly intended for collectors and valued at approximately $1,500.