http://www.thelocal.de/society/20101204-31583.html

I don't know abut the laws in Germany even i spent a lot of time there. But i newer thought that that much money could be made on spiders.

Regards, BKK

He's been arrested in Los Angeles by US authorities because of violation of US laws and international regulations (CITES, genus Brachypelma).
Furthermore, he could be punished in the USA for violation of foreign laws due to the Lacey Act.

There are some high priced species of tarantulas with prices up to 500 Euro or even more. Even "common" spiders like Brachypelma spp. can bring "good" money, if you smuggle them in large amounts of 300 specimens (they do not need much space).
regards
Peter

The most expensive spider I know is Poecilotheria Metallica. Addult females can cost arround 500€, males arround 100€ and slings are available from 50-70€. But there is possible some other species, but I know not of any, of course I'm not putting a lot of interest on spiders. Maybe a spider enthusiast would know this. There is probably a lot of poorly known species and also a lot of collectors who would have them and are prepared to pay a lot of money for them. That gives some smuglers an oportunity to make some money. It's the same with other exotic animals and also with snakes.

Regards, BKK

Must be a very stupid smuggler then, risking that much for nothing

I can not really imagine how many spiders would have to be sold for 300000$. Not very wise smuggler, I agree.

Regards, BKK

As psalmopeus Irminia was mentioned i found some pictures of my female.


Regards, BKK

Press release from department of justice:

http://www.justice.gov/usao/cac/pressroom/pr2010/174.html

Borstjan,
nice picture of your female Psalmopeus.
She's got a real kissie mouth .
I find spiders interesting and beautidull, but they still give me the creeps.

Everybody,
Why not ship the animals legal way? I don't understand.
But I'm not femiliar with shippinglaws of animals.

The thing I see here and I have seen in another "bust" is the fact they put so much emphasis on the money involved. In all reality, the money factor is neither here nor there. Meaning it is not the point regardless. But the ploy of emphasizing the large amounts of money works, even on herpers. Most of the responses on this topic are based on the money itself and not the crime(s).

If I remember right, there was one species that was illegal to ship here (in the States), yet they confiscate them all? And to put so much emphasis on the money factor is just very typical of our government here. Which is ironic since this is a capitalistic country....

If the animals were not shipped properly then that should be a violation in itself. If the there was an outlawed species involved then that should be a another violation in itself. But to go after the money is government-based highway robbery which tips the scale in their favor.

And, which of these government geniuses decides the "street value" of them anyways? In the other bust I am referring to, I saw pictures of normal ball pythons being held up for display by San Francisco Animal Control Officers stating they were worth some insane amount of money ( I cannot remember the exact amount, but it was ludicrous!). Again, in that situation the violation was because the owner had ball pythons and boa constrictors which are evidently illegal to own in the city of San Francisco. But, the entire emphasis was on the money!! Such a pet peeve of mine...