Turkish police have arrested a man suspected of trying to smuggle venomous spiders and scorpions, with a market value of up to ten million dollars per liter of medicine derived from some of their venom. Official media reported today that the suspect is the curator of the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
The police stated that the suspect was apprehended at Istanbul Airport on Sunday, where dozens of bags containing about 1,500 scorpions and spiders, including tarantulas, were confiscated, along with dozens of plastic bottles containing unspecified liquids.
Anadolu Agency reported that the suspect is Lorenzo Brindini, the curator of the American Museum of Natural History, though it did not specify the source of this information. The museum has not yet responded to requests for comments, and it has not been possible to reach Brindini.
The police noted that the seized scorpions and spiders are indigenous to Turkey, and their DNA can be replicated to extract their toxins for use in drug manufacturing. They added that the suspect faces charges under anti-smuggling laws, without mentioning his name. It was emphasized that these medicines hold extremely high monetary value, making the transport of these animal species out of the country strictly prohibited. Further research has indicated that the market value of one liter of medicine derived from scorpion venom can reach ten million dollars.
