A man from Germany has admitted to smuggling hundreds of live tarantulas into the US.
37-year-old Sven Koppler from Wachtberg pleaded guilty to a federal smuggling charge in connection with mailing 22 Mexican red-kneed tarantulas to federal agents who were posing as buyers in Los Angeles as part of an investigation dubbed “Operation Spiderman.”
Mexican red-kneed tarantulas are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Koppler admitted that he mailed over 247 live tarantulas to the US.
According to reports, the investigation began in March, when a routine inspection turned up around 300 live tarantulas in a package he mailed to LA.
Koppler was arrested in December after arriving in LA to meet with an associate. Prosecutors said Koppler made about $300,000 by selling the furry spiders to people worldwide.
According to reports, Koppler may be imprisoned for up to 20 years for his actions. He will be sentenced April 11.
