Turkish authorities detained Lorenzo Prendini, a curator at the American Museum of Natural History, at Istanbul Airport after discovering a large collection of endemic wildlife in his luggage.

Prendini is suspected of attempting to smuggle the creatures out of the country.

Police seized 58 clip-on bags containing roughly 1,500 scorpions, tarantulas, and spiders along with 88 plastic vials filled with liquid. All the species are reportedly native to Turkey.

Prendini now faces charges under Turkish anti-smuggling laws. The detention comes amid concerns over the illegal wildlife trade, particularly for species with potential medical applications.

The venom of some endemic Turkish creatures is valuable in pharmaceutical research, with a liter of scorpion venom-based medicine estimated to be worth around $10 million.

This incident highlights the importance of protecting endangered species and enforcing regulations against wildlife smuggling. (ILKHA)