Surprising: hundreds of insects seized in Colombia 0:47
(CNN) -
Hundreds of tarantulas and insects were seized by Colombian authorities on Thursday when they thwarted an alleged smuggling attempt to Europe, authorities said.
A statement from the Bogotá environmental authority indicates that they confiscated at least 232 tarantulas, 67 cockroaches, nine spider eggs and a scorpion with seven of its offspring at the El Dorado airport in the capital.
Colombian officials seized hundreds of tarantulas, cockroaches and a scorpion.
The insects were kept in more than 200 plastic containers hidden in a suitcase, the statement said.
The authorities arrested two German citizens.
They said they were taking the animals to Germany for academic purposes, but did not have the permits to collect and transport them.
The video shows some of the insects crawling around a box as authorities examine them.
In the images, a tarantula climbs a wooden branch, while another insect crawls up the arm of an official as he inspects it.
Bogotá's Environment Secretary Carolina Urrutia said that even if people intended to use wild animals for scientific research, they still need permission from the relevant authorities to remove them from the country.
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The authorities examine the insects that were allegedly found hidden in a suitcase.
This is the second incident in less than three months in which authorities have seized wild specimens destined for illegal export from Colombia.
In September, officials seized a shipment of nearly 3,500 shark fins bound for Hong Kong.
Animal Trafficking