German customs officials have disclosed the seizure of roughly 1,500 young tarantulas that had been concealed inside chocolate sponge-cake boxes at Cologne/Bonn Airport. The 7-kilogram parcel, declared as a delivery of cookies, arrived from Vietnam and was intercepted after inspectors noticed a smell that did not match the declared confectionery. When officers opened the package they found each spider packed in its own small plastic container. Many of the arachnids had died in transit, while the survivors were transferred to specialist handlers. The method of transport and false declaration appear to violate German animal-welfare regulations and customs rules governing the import of live animals. Customs spokesman Jens Ahland called the find an “extraordinary seizure” that stunned even veteran staff. Images of the discovery were released on 14 July, about three weeks after the spiders were first confiscated. Prosecutors have opened criminal proceedings against the intended recipient in the Sauerland region for suspected customs fraud and failure to pay import duties, and officials are still assessing the shipment’s market value.