South African police arrested a 28-year-old man at Cape Town Airport after finding 150 live venomous scorpions hidden in his luggage. The arrest followed an intelligence operation that led officers to intercept the suspect on Friday.
Authorities said the man had concealed the arachnids between his clothing inside his luggage. Officers arrested him under the Nature and Environmental Ordinance Act for being in possession of a wild animal.
He is expected to appear in court on Monday. Police did not name the man or disclose his intended destination.
The scorpions, each wrapped individually in plastic, were handed over to a wildlife facility for safekeeping. Officials are assessing their market value.
