Hundreds Of Tarantulas Smuggled Through U.S. Mail

A man accused of smuggling hundreds of tarantulas into the United States by mail was under arrest today in Los Angeles.

Sven Koppler, 37, of Wachtberg, Germany, was arrested Thursday after arriving in Los Angeles to meet with an associate, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

What federal authorities dubbed Operation Spiderman began in March when a routine search of an international package revealed about 300 live tarantulas being shipped to Los Angeles, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife agents intercepted a second package that contained 22 Mexican red-kneed tarantulas, a species that is protected under an international treaty.

Agents ordered more tarantulas from Koppler, who allegedly sent a package that included about 70 live tarantulas and one dead spider.

Koppler allegedly received about $300,000 as a result of tarantula sales to spider fanciers in dozens of countries, including nine people in the United States, according to the criminal complaint.

If found guilty of illegally importing wildlife into the United States, he could be sentenced to 20 years in federal prison and fined $250,000, prosecutors said.

Koppler is expected to make his initial Los Angeles federal court appearance later today.