1,500 tarantulas smuggled in chocolate biscuit boxes found at Germany airport

Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald on Jul 14, 2025

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Customs officials at an airport in Germany discovered about 1,500 young tarantulas stuffed inside boxes of chocolate biscuits.

The package, which arrived at the Cologne Bonn Airport from Vietnam, gave off a noticeable smell, inconsistent with what one would expect from chocolate treats, according to a July 14 news release from the Cologne customs office.

Officials said many of the tarantulas did not survive, which violated animal welfare laws. Those that did survive were placed in the care of wildlife professionals, according to the release.

Customs spokesperson Jens Ahland said officials were saddened to see what people will do to animals for profit. Though officials regularly see smuggled items from all over the world, this particular case left them speechless, Ahland said in the release.

The tarantulas were packed in plastic tubes inside the boxes, photos showed.

Criminal proceedings are underway against the package recipient, located in Germany’s Sauerland region, officials said. Animals of any kind must be declared to customs and import duties must be paid for parcels from a non-European Union member state, according to the release.