A GERMAN MAN HAS pleaded guilty to smuggling live tarantulas into the US after being arrested last month by US authorities under “Operation Spiderman”.

In early December, the US Fish and Wildlife Service said they had arrested Sven Koppler, 37, of Wachtberg, Germany, after he arrived in LA to meet an associate.

The investigation into Koppler began in March 2010, after a routine search of international mail showed that up to 300 live tarantulas had been shipped to LA from Germany in one parcel via the US Postal Service.

A second package of over 200 tarantulas included around 20 of one species (Mexican red-kneed) which is protected under an international trade agreement of endangered species. A special permit is required for exporting them.

The US agency said it then ordered more tarantulas from Koppler undercover, and found records which indicate he has earned around $300,000 (€225,000) through selling and shipping live tarantulas to international buyers.

Reuters reported that Koppler admitted in court this week to mailing 247 live tarantulas to the undercover agents in the US, and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison when sentenced on 11 April.