"Shipping these tarantulas is illegal as no health documents have been issued from the animal quarantine office or for transit shipments," Julianto revealed.
Currently, the evidence has been handed over to the Lampung Natural Resources Conservation Center for quarantine and the Lampung Police Department is investigating the case.
A total of 111 live tarantulas were successfully secured before being sent via post to an address in Bandarlampung on April 28, 2016.
The live tarantulas were shipped from Thailand, and the arachnids were placed in small tubes concealed inside infant diapers and dolls.
The goods were notified as factory toys, with a value of US$10 million.
Julianto asserted that the attempt to thwart live animal shipments was a follow-up to the cooperation between PT Pos Indonesia, Lampung Police, and the Bandarlampung Customs and Excise Office.
Currently, the Lampung Police has summoned the packages recipient for further investigation.
The illegal shipping of tarantulas is potentially harmful as the species are believed to be the carriers of alien pests and diseases due to the lack of medical documentation from the country of origin, Julianto noted.
Julianto remarked that the shipment also violated article 5 of Law No. 16 of 1992 on Animals and Plants.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
