One of the suspects may be a prominent tarantula researcher, Peru's wildlife agency said A Polish national and two Germans have been arrested in Peru for allegedly attempting to smuggle over 3,000 tarantulas out of the country, including some of the Amazon's largest species. Peruvian wildlife agency SERFOR announced on Wednesday that the three were detained at the airport in the capital, Lima, as they prepared to fly to Germany. The spider haul hidden in their luggage ranged from eggs and juveniles to fully grown specimens. "The smugglers made a meticulous selection to obtain different species, including some not yet described by science," SERFOR official Cora Suárez said, adding that the spiders came from various regions of Peru. Among the seized specimens was Pamphobeteus antinous, one of South America's largest tarantulas, classified as threatened and legally protected in Peru. SERFOR said one of the suspects may be a prominent tarantula researcher. "The spiders, some prized for their striking colors, could have been smuggled for collectors, research purposes or the exotic pet trade," the agency added. Wildlife trafficking carries a prison sentence of three to five years in Peru, rising to seven years for protected species.
