Englishman arrested in Brazil for carrying 1,000 live spiders

RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazil’s federal police arrested here an Englishman who intended to leave the country with 1,000 live spiders packed in two suitcases, the authorities said Thursday.

Police said the arrest took place Wednesday at Rio de Janeiro’s international airport, with the help of agents for the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama).

Criminal charges were set to be pressed against the man, whose identity was not revealed, and he faced a fine of up to $2.3 million, the authorities stressed.

The spiders were confiscated and were sent on to the Rio de Janeiro National Museum, where they were to be studied by experts.