Foreigners Detained at Costa Rica International Airport Carrying Spiders, Ants and a Scorpion

Two foreigners were detained at the Juan Santamaria International Airport in Costa Rica, when they attempted to leave the country with 181 containers containing live ants, spiders and a scorpion.

The men of German nationality and last names Goldnik and Ollesch were arrested by Airport Police of the Ministry of Public Security for violating the Wildlife Law and were taken to preventive imprisonment.

In total, the jars they were carrying contained 1,000 ants, close to 12 spiders and 1 scorpion. Among the insects there were some endemic species as well as eggs from the different species.

The alert about the men was given by German authorities. Goldnik, 22 years of age and Ollesch, 54, were stopped as their luggage was inspected, this is not the first time Ollesch Is detained for this reason.

Insects like other wildlife species can only be taken out of the country through a special permit by the Ministry of Environment and the National Animal Health Service (Senasa) as well as a permit from the country they are been transported to.

Apparently, these species have high prices in the black market, which is why they are transferred in special containers.