1,500 Tarantulas Found Hidden in Cake Boxes at German Airport

Berlin, July 14 (AP) — Arachnophobes be warned: Customs officials have unveiled photos showing a seizure of approximately 1,500 young tarantulas, uncovered inside plastic containers concealed within chocolate spongecake boxes shipped to an airport in western Germany.

The discovery was made at Cologne Bonn airport when customs officials, prompted by an unusual odor that deviated from the smell of the supposed 7 kilograms of confectionery, investigated a package that arrived from Vietnam. Jens Ahland, spokesperson for the Cologne customs office, shared insights on this unexpected find.

"Our airport colleagues frequently encounter surprising contents in prohibited packages from around the globe, but discovering around 1,500 small plastic containers with young tarantulas inside this particular package left even the most seasoned among them at a loss for words," Ahland commented in a statement.

While Ahland lauded the operation as an "extraordinary seizure," he expressed dismay at witnessing the lengths people go to for profit at the expense of animals. Many of these eight-legged creatures didn't survive the journey, suspected to contravene German animal-welfare regulations. The surviving tarantulas have been safely turned over to an expert handler, according to the office. In a phone interview, Ahland mentioned that the shipment's estimated value is currently under evaluation.

Criminal charges have been initiated against the intended recipient in the Sauerland region, east of the airport, for alleged violations such as evading the appropriate import duties and failing to complete proper customs declarations, the office further noted.

Despite being discovered around three weeks ago, the customs office only made the images public on Monday. (AP)

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