Wildlife trafficking remains a lucrative business mainly fueled by collectors willing to pay top money, no matter if it involves the smuggling of deadly arachnids.
Customs agents at the Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) reported on Tuesday that they had foiled an attempt to smuggle into the country some 700 live tarantula spiders, widely considered by wildlife specialists as an endangered species.
Customs District Collector Mimel Talusan said the tarantulas, valued at P300,000, came from Warsaw, Poland, on April 1, 2019, and misdeclared as “collection items.”
An inspection, he said, revealed that smaller tarantulas were placed inside plastic tubes, while the bigger ones were placed in plastic film carriers, and concealed inside nine boxes of oatmeal and cookies.
Talusan said the listed consignee was identified as Jesse Camaro of Caloocan City, while the sender was Wojciech Pakasz of Poland. Camaro was arrested after attempting to claim the live contraband.
He was brought to the Pasay City Prosecutors Office for inquest in violation of Republic Act 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and RA 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.
Camaro is facing imprisonment of six months and one day to one year, and a fine of P1000 to P100,000 if found guilty, Talusan said.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) at airport said that all trading, collecting, hunting and possession of wildlife without proper documentation is punishable by law.
The airport Customs bureau said from 2018 up to present, it has turned over a total of 2,152 wildlife and endangered species, including 250 geckos, 254 live corals and reptiles to the DENR.
All were intercepted through air parcels, baggage and shipments.
Earlier this year, airport Customs personnel seized 63 Iguanas, chameleon and bearded dragons.
