ANKARA

Turkish Customs officials seized 76 tarantulas in a cargo sent from Poland to Marmaris, southwestern Türkiye, Ministry of Commerce reported on Sunday. 

Security teams found large and hairy spiders after examining the cargo, a statement by the ministry said.

Declared as "aquarium plant" in documents, the cargo was found "suspicious" and subjected to examination.

There were 76 tarantulas in small glass tubes inside a Styrofoam wrapped in a newsprint.

The seized tubes contained different species of tarantulas, which were later delivered to the Biology Department of Sitki Kocman University in Turkish province of Mugla.

*Writing by Alperen Aktas in Istanbul