Nearly 1,500 tarantulas and scorpions were seized in an operation at Istanbul Airport aimed at smuggling them to the USA. Among those detained was Professor Lorenzo Prendini, the Director of the American National Museum of Natural History, for attempting to smuggle endemic species in a suitcase. These animals, including Türkiye’s endemic species, were found in 58 clip-top bags along with liquid-filled plastic tube bottles.

The seized animals, valued for their DNA information and venom used in medicine production, have a market value of $10 million per liter of scorpion venom. The investigation into Professor Prendini continues under the charge of violating Law No. 5607. Images of the operation and captured animals were released, showcasing the scale of the smuggling attempt and the moment of arrest.