Authorities detained three European travelers after finding eggs, young spiders and adult tarantulas concealed in socks inside their suitcases.
LIMA, Peru — Peruvian wildlife and customs officials seized more than 3,000 tarantulas hidden inside socks in three suitcases at Jorge Chávez International Airport, stopping what authorities described as an attempt to take the spiders illegally to Germany.
The National Forest and Wildlife Service, known as SERFOR, said two German citizens and one Polish citizen were stopped as they went through procedures before departure. Authorities said the luggage contained tarantulas at several stages of development, including eggs, hatchlings and adults. Police specializing in environmental crimes detained the three travelers as officials began examining the animals and the circumstances surrounding their planned export.
The seizure drew attention because of both the number of spiders involved and the way they were transported. Authorities found the animals packed inside socks distributed among the three suitcases. Reports from Peru said the socks had been arranged and labeled, suggesting the spiders had been separated for transport rather than ending up in the baggage accidentally.
Peruvian reports said the intervention followed information received through an anonymous alert submitted to SERFOR. Wildlife and customs officials then conducted investigative work before stopping the travelers at the airport. Other accounts of the operation said officers noticed movement among the contents of the luggage during the inspection. The available reports agree that the spiders were discovered before the travelers departed for Germany.
Cora Suarez, a SERFOR wildlife control technician, said the shipment included spiders of different sizes and ages. Officials said the tarantulas came from several parts of Peru, a country whose habitats stretch from the Pacific coast and Andes to the Amazon. Authorities were continuing to identify the specimens after the seizure.
At least one of the species found in the luggage is protected, according to reporting based on information from Peruvian wildlife authorities. Some of the tarantulas represented species sought in the international exotic-pet market. Officials also said some specimens could require further scientific identification, making the final composition of the shipment important to determining the conservation impact of the attempted export.
SERFOR estimated that a tarantula can sell for about 500 euros in Europe, depending on the animal and market. Using that figure, officials said a shipment of roughly 3,000 spiders could represent about 1.5 million euros in potential value. That calculation is an estimate rather than a confirmed sale price for the animals seized in Lima.
The travelers face proceedings connected to the suspected illegal movement of wildlife, authorities said. Reports described both criminal and administrative processes, but no final disposition of the cases had been announced. The detention of the travelers does not establish guilt, and the available reporting did not detail any court rulings in the case.
Authorities said the seized tarantulas would be evaluated and identified before being transferred to an authorized breeding or wildlife facility. Officials had not announced a final count by species or the eventual legal outcome for the three travelers as of Monday.
Author note: Last updated November 9, 2026.