The Red-Kneed Tarantula is currently protected by international conventions.
According to a January 19 report by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), a German man, Keppler, was arrested in Los Angeles last December for allegedly smuggling live spiders into the United States. He has since confessed to his crimes and could face up to 20 years in prison, according to a post on Baidu Space by user zzfhhxy369.
U.S. prosecutors stated that Keppler sold hundreds of spiders over the internet to customers in the U.S. and around the world, generating illegal profits exceeding $295,000. Among the spiders he sold were Mexican red-kneed tarantulas, a species subject to strict export controls. Prosecutors noted that Keppler was aware that tarantulas are protected animals, and at least some of his stock originated from South Africa.
Court documents revealed that an official from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service discovered that Keppler had imported and sold large quantities of live spiders from Germany without customs approval. Investigators then posed as buyers and placed orders with Keppler, soon receiving packages containing live spiders sent through the post office. The packages were labeled as gifts or plastic jars.
It is reported that Keppler is 37 years old and was arrested by police in Los Angeles last December when he went there to meet a partner. He is scheduled to appear in court on April 11 this year.
(Source: China Daily website, Cai Donghai)