A director of the American Museum of Natural History was arrested in Istanbul on Monday on suspicion of trying to smuggle spider and scorpion samples, Turkish media reported.
According to multiple media reports, Lorenzo Prendini, a spider expert from a prestigious New York institute, was arrested by police at Istanbul Airport while trying to collect some 1,500 samples from abroad.
A video posted by the IHA news agency showed anti-smuggling agents searching his carry-on luggage and removing zippered plastic bags that appeared to contain dead spiders and scorpions.
They also reportedly found samples of venom liquid in plastic bottles.
The official Anadolu news agency reported that Prendini was arrested on suspicion of trying to smuggle endemic species.
The museum’s website lists Prendini, who was born in South Africa, as curator of spiders, scorpions, centipedes and centipedes collections and as a professor at the Richard Gilder Graduate School.
According to the museum, his research on spiders and scorpions has taken him to more than 30 countries and he has published numerous scientific articles on the subject.
He also worked in the Biology Department of the City University of New York.
