Peruvian authorities seized more than 3,000 tarantulas hidden in socks inside three travelers’ suitcases at Jorge Chávez International Airport. (Foto: Instagram)
Peru’s National Forest and Wildlife Service (Serfor) and customs agents seized more than 3,000 tarantulas concealed in socks in the luggage of three foreign travelers at Jorge Chávez International Airport. The group—two German citizens and one Polish citizen—was planning to travel to Germany, Serfor said.
The spiders were found in three suitcases and included specimens at different life stages, from eggs and young spiders to adults. Cora Suárez, a forest and wildlife control specialist with Serfor, said the animals represented different species, some of which have not yet been scientifically described.
Suárez said the selection of species appeared to have been made carefully. She described the tarantulas as hidden inside socks packed in the three bags and referred to the people transporting them as traffickers.
The Peruvian National Police detained the travelers, according to a Serfor post published Nov. 5, 2026. The agency said administrative sanctioning proceedings would be initiated. The post identified the seizure as a joint operation by Serfor and customs authorities.
