84 tarantulas seized at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines — Customs examiners confiscated a package containing young tarantulas at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on April 16, the Bureau of Customs reported yesterday.

BOC personnel assigned at NAIA flagged as suspicious a parcel from Poland declared to contain origami products after it underwent x-ray scanning at the NAIA Central Mail Exchange Center.

The package was supposed to be delivered to a consignee in Biñan, Laguna, according to a BOC statement.

Inspectors opened the boxes and found cases containing 84 live spiderlings.

The smuggling of tarantulas violates the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, the BOC said.