757 tarantulas seized at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) confiscated 757 live tarantulas that arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Central Mail Exchange Center on Monday from Poland.

The tarantulas, valued at P310,900 and declared as “collection items,” were hidden in nine boxes of oatmeal and cookies sent by Wojciech Pakasz of Poland to Jesse Camaro of Caloocan City, the BOC said.

Camaro was arrested after claiming the boxes and was charged before the Pasay prosecutor’s office with violating Republic Acts 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act) and 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act) yesterday, NAIA-BOC district collector Mimel Talusan said.