South Korean Man Arrested for Smuggling Tarantulas and Centipedes from Peru

The suspect was caught at Lima's airport with over 400 illegal wildlife specimens strapped to his body.

Authorities in Peru arrested a 28-year-old South Korean man attempting to smuggle 320 tarantulas, 110 centipedes, and 9 bullet ants.
The man was detected at Jorge Chávez International Airport due to his unusually swollen stomach, which concealed the creatures in plastic bags.
Peru's National Forest and Wildlife Service (SERFOR) identified the animals as illegally extracted, likely from the Madre de Dios region.
Wildlife trafficking is a significant global issue, impacting thousands of species and generating millions of dollars annually.
Experts highlight the vulnerability of tarantulas to poaching due to their long lifespan and infrequent reproduction.