Brazil arrests spider trader

Published on Friday 13 November 2009 21:23

A BRITISH man has been arrested in Brazil for attempting to smuggle at least 1,000 live spiders out of the country in his suitcases.

The pet shop owner was arrested at Rio de Janeiro airport after security X-rays detected the spiders, including tarantulas.

The man, who has not been named, was charged and released on bail pending a court date. He could face a 1.4 million fine and up to a year in prison.

Brazil bans unlicensed animal exports but is one of world's biggest sources of trafficked animals. Officials rescue about 50,000 creatures a year.