A Korean man was apprehended at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Peru with 320 tarantulas and 110 centipedes hidden on his person, Reuters reported.
According to Pilar Ayala, a biologist with the National Forestry and Wildlife Service (SERFOR), airport security alerted authorities after discovering the man had placed the creatures in small ziploc bags with filter paper, secured around his body with two girdles.
The animals, including tarantulas the size of a hand, were believed to have been illegally sourced from the Madre de Dios region.
The 28-year-old was attempting to board a flight to South Korea when security noticed his swollen stomach, which led to the discovery.
The trafficking of endangered species, often sold as pets or to collectors, is a lucrative illegal industry, generating millions of dollars globally.
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