Peruvian authorities seized more than 3,000 tarantulas hidden inside dirty socks in luggage at Jorge Chávez International Airport as they were being sent to Germany. Customs officers were alerted after they noticed unusual movement in the suitcases during a routine inspection. Inside three bags, officials found the spiders concealed between 15 and 22 socks. The seized animals included multiple tarantula species and various growth stages, including eggs, juveniles and adults, collected from different regions in Peru. Two Germans and one Polish citizen were detained in connection with the smuggling attempt, and judicial proceedings are expected. The National Forestry and Wildlife Service said demand in European markets is driven by the spiders distinctive sizes and colors. The value of a single spider was put at around 500 euros, putting the shipment’s total value at approximately 1.5 million euros. Illegal wildlife trade is estimated by INTERPOL to generate about $20 billion a year worldwide.