The Cologne Customs of Cologne/Bonn made a very unusual find three weeks ago. In a smuggling package from Vietnam to Germany, the officers discovered around 1500 Tarantulas – many of them were already dead. The animals were hidden in cooking packages.
“Even the striking scent when opening the large package did not match the alleged contents of seven kilograms of cookies,” said Jens Ahland, spokesperson for Cologne’s main Custom.
“My colleagues at the airport are regularly surprised by forbidden package content from all over the world,” he said. “But the fact that they found around 1500 small plastic containers with young bird spiders in this package made even the most experienced among them speechless,” said the press spokesperson.
Many of the spiders did not survive unlike animal welfare. The animals that had survived the journey are now taken care of where necessary. “An extraordinary attack for German customs, even if it affects us, what some people do out of pure profit,” said Ahland.
The package should have been sent from Vietnam to the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The criminal proceedings are now underway against the recipient of the package.
If animals are sent from a non-EU country to the EU, this must be registered at customs. Moreover, import duties are due to the animals.
Source: Krone
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