Peruvian authorities seized 30 millipedes and six Amazonian tarantulas during an attempt to smuggle them to Hong Kong, as announced by the National Forest and Wildlife Service (Serfor). The shipment, which local authorities value at around $30,000, was discovered during a routine customs inspection at Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima.
Serfor stated in a release, "The invertebrates were found in tight spaces including plastic tubes." According to specialists, Amazonian tarantulas can be sold for about $5,000 each in Asia, while millipedes are also very popular among collectors.
Illegal trade in exotic wildlife is a lucrative activity, and it is one of the main reasons for biodiversity loss on the planet. According to Interpol, the value of this illegal trade reaches $20 billion annually.
