Turkish Customs officials seize 76 tarantulas in postal cargo

Photo of a Tarantula walking on someone’s hand [Tarantula Turkiye/Facebook]

Turkish Customs officials seized 76 tarantulas in a cargo sent from Poland to Marmaris, southwestern Turkey, Ministry of Commerce reported on Sunday, reports Anadolu Agency.

Security teams found large and hairy spiders after examining the cargo, a statement by the ministry said.

Declared as “aquarium plant” in documents, the cargo was found “suspicious” and subjected to examination.

There were 76 tarantulas in small glass tubes inside a Styrofoam wrapped in a newsprint.

The seized tubes contained different species of tarantulas, which were later delivered to the Biology Department of Sitki Kocman University in Turkish province of Mugla.

READ: Turkey seized $18.7bn worth of drugs in 2020

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