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Zurich, Switzerland.– Hundreds of tarantulas have been seized at a Swiss airport after suspicious containers were searched, the Zurich Customs Investigation Office said in a statement.

According to the report, the authorities were expected to find drugs, but were shocked when they found 261 Mexican Redknee tarantulas, a protected species, individually wrapped in six cartons belonging to a Swiss spider breeder and dealer. Ten of large spiders died during the trip from the Dominican Republic.

While searching the man’s house, investigators found another 665 tarantulas and 72 meat-eating centipedes. Though he imported them illegally from Central America, he will be allowed to keep them, as they are not endangered.

The Zurich Zoo is currently caring for the remaining protected tarantulas, which are said to be only mildly poisonous to humans. In total, the tarantulas are worth up to $16,700.


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COMMENTS
5 comment(s)
Written by: RobertoJose, 22 Oct 2011 10:02 AM
From: United States, FREEPORT, Long Island.... (Look, beyond the words)
I'm sure none of the dominican port authorities know what kind of impact these bugs would make if escaped , can't even imagine what else is smuggled threw the Dominican Rep. , in order to protect you have to educate

We can't have dumb people protect this beautiful island, Imagine if an idiot inspector takes hush monies on a bag of piranhas or baby burmese pythons and was told it was heading to europe , but takes a detour to one of the lakes feeding many rivers...it will ruin everything.

I rather have the cocaine flow threw DR instead........and make it harder for users and people with physical contact with the stuff to get by in DR with mandatory drug testing for everything DR., insurance health or vehicular, drivers license and JOBS created by the government and private, also in order to obtain a business license you need to take a drug test as well, ah.... almost forgot about bank accounts, that to.. I'll leave the students alone, we need flunkies for examples...
Written by: sweetbabyj, 22 Oct 2011 12:03 PM
From: United States
Another greedy collector trying to make a buck. Take away his license and every thing he owns. Shows you how lax customs is in DR
Written by: underpar, 23 Oct 2011 6:51 PM
From: Dominican Republic
The same pathetic people on this forum who bash everything and every time!

Hey Shit gets through that's the way it is wake up!

Nothing gets into America?

Like I said pathetic stupid people!
Written by: junglemonkey, 24 Oct 2011 9:33 AM
From: United States
This guy was smuggling them to Switzerland, my question is how did these Mexian spiders get through customs to the D.R in the first place?!

ha ha ;)
Written by: RobertoJose, 24 Oct 2011 2:05 PM
From: United States, FREEPORT, Long Island.... (Look, beyond the words)
Hey Underpants,

How would YOU like a burmese python grab a relative of yours wadding in the river, it can happen....

Seeing you for the first time and you show no valid argument....so far only insults.... you can do better than that, try it....

BTW, its DR not USA.......you're just mad no one will marry you and take you out of your shet hole
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