Hundreds of endangered species seized by Border Force in illegal wildlife smuggling crackdown
More than 250 endangered species, including snakes and budgies, have been seized at the UK border, new figures have revealed.
The crackdown was part of an annual international operation to combat illegal wildlife smuggling called Operation Thunder, spearheaded by Interpol and the World Customs Organization to disrupt criminal smuggling networks.
In just one month this year, Border Force officers seized more than 2,000 live tarantulas in one go; of these, 302 were protected as endangered species. The estimated value of the creatures from Europe was £70,000.
Last year, two tarantulas were seized, a total of 536 spiders were seized, and 61 creatures were found in 2023. Almost no tarantulas smuggled into the country before 2023 have been found.
Border Force officials say spider smuggling into the country has increased since 2023, and experts say this is due to the growth of online markets and social media influencers that have made owning exotic pets trendy.
Adult tarantulas can sell for up to £500, depending on the species. A UK website is selling a rare Argentine spider for £450, while others are priced at up to £120.
Runaway spiders suffer high mortality rates due to inadequate packaging, lack of ventilation, and improper temperature control during travel.
Border Force says fraudsters and snoopers often use forged documents, mislabel shipments and hide spiders in luggage to avoid detection.
Tarantulas were among hundreds of endangered species and illegal wildlife products authorities discovered were being smuggled into the UK through airports, ports and postal centres.
Authorities also discovered more than 100 endangered birds, including scarlet ibis, green-cheeked loon and parakeet, crammed into a car. Some had died, while the rest were in squalid conditions where it was feared there was a risk of spreading the disease.
Two rainbow boa constrictors appeared under blankets in a car in Dover. The driver had purchased them without a license from a German reptile fair.
The seizures, made from mid-September to mid-October, part of an annual international crackdown on illegal wildlife trafficking, represented a 73 percent increase on the previous year.
Wildlife crime is worth up to £17 billion a year worldwide, making it the fourth largest international crime behind firearms, drugs and human trafficking.
An elephant hair ring from the US, king cobra balm from Thailand and a blacktip shark jaw from Australia were also seized by authorities and prevented from reaching the black market.
Where sellers failed to provide paperwork, officers seized items such as shark and crocodile meat, ivory carvings and a tiger claw bottle.
The seized items are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites).
Conservationists warn wildlife trafficking poses significant risks to animal welfare, biosecurity and conservation and undermines legitimate breeders.
Home Secretary Mike Tapp said: “Wildlife trafficking is serious organized crime. It fuels corruption, drives species extinction and undermines our border security.”
He said the seizures cut off a key source of funding for dangerous gangs.
Environment Minister Mary Creagh said: ‘By tackling wildlife crime we are sending a clear message to criminal gangs that this government will make every effort to bring those involved to justice.’
The Ministry of Internal Affairs says the seized live animals were handed over to accredited zoos and conservation organisations.
