Peru seizes over 3,000 tarantulas in socks
Peru airport officials discover 3,000 tarantulas smuggled inside dirty socks
Friday, 6 November 2026
Photo by Pamela Huber on Unsplash
Warm-up
- What checks do officers do at airports?
- Why might someone try to hide an item in luggage?
- How do you feel about keeping spiders as pets?
Vocabulary
- smuggle
- to move something secretly and illegally from one place to another
- suitcase
- a large bag with a handle used for travel
- sock
- a piece of clothing you wear on your foot
- inspect
- to look at something carefully to check it
- wriggle
- to twist and move in small quick movements
- hatchling
- a very young animal that has just come out of an egg
- detain
- to keep someone in official custody
- trafficking
- the illegal buying and selling of goods or animals
Reading
Listen to this story
British EnglishPeruvian officials seized more than 3,000 tarantulas at Jorge Chávez international airport in Lima. Agents inspected three suitcases and saw unusual wriggling inside. The spiders were smuggled in dirty socks. Two Germans and a Polish citizen were carrying them, and were going to take them to Germany.
The National Forestry and Wildlife Service (SERFOR) said the spiders came from several regions of Peru. They were found at different stages, from eggs and hatchlings to adults. One tarantula can sell for about €500 in Europe, so the load could be worth around €1.5m.
Police specialising in environmental crimes detained the travellers, who will face criminal proceedings. Interpol says illegal wildlife trafficking generates about $20bn a year worldwide and is one of the main causes of the loss of wildlife.
Comprehension
- Where were the tarantulas found?
- How many tarantulas were seized by officials?
- How were the spiders hidden inside the luggage?
- Where were the travellers going to take the spiders?
- How much can one tarantula sell for in Europe?
Grammar focus
Going to (future)
Use be going to for future plans or intentions. Form: am/is/are + going to + base verb. We use it when a decision is made or there is present evidence. (Example 2 constructed.)
- Two Germans and a Polish citizen were going to take them to Germany.
- Traffickers are going to sell spiders in Europe.
Practise this grammar: Be going to (A2) · Future forms: will, be going to and the present continuous (B1)
Grammar exercise
Complete each sentence with be going to: am/is/are + going to + verb.
- Security teams (increase) ___ checks next week.
- A traveller (try) ___ to hide spiders again.
- Officials (warn) ___ visitors about trafficking soon.
- The airport (add) ___ checks at security this month.
- Collectors (pay) ___ high prices this year.
Discussion
- Is it ever OK to buy wild animals? Why or why not?
- How can airports better stop people who smuggle animals?
- Which animals in your country risk illegal trade?
- Would you report wildlife crime if you saw it? Why?
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