Six live tarantulas were found in containers inside Tam’s sling bag (left, centre), while another 92 tarantulas were found at his home (right). (PHOTOS: ICA & AVA)

A 34-year-old man has been slapped with a $12,800 fine for illegally importing and keeping tarantulas in his home, said the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) and Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

In a joint press release on Wednesday (1 August), the authorities said Tam Jiaming had initially told an ICA officer that he had nothing to declare during a car check at Tuas checkpoint.

The ICA officer then found six live tarantulas, kept individually in containers, inside a sling bag that was placed on the rear passenger seat of Tam’s car. Further investigations were conducted and the AVA seized another 92 tarantulas from Tam’s home.

The tarantulas are now under the care of Wildlife Reserves Singapore.

Tarantulas are not allowed to be kept as pets in Singapore, with some species being protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

“Wildlife are not suitable pets as some may transmit zoonotic diseases to humans and pose a public safety risk if mishandled or if they escape into our dense urban environment. Non-native animals may also be a threat to our biodiversity if released into the environment,” the AVA said.

Anyone caught being involved in the keeping and trading of illegal wildlife and wildlife parts or products, can be fined up to $1,000 and would have to forfeit the wildlife possessions.

In addition, anyone caught importing, possessing or selling any CITES-protected species without CITES permits can be fined up to $50,000 per CITES-listed animal – to a maximum total of $500,000 – and be imprisoned for up to two years.

If the animals were subjected to unnecessary suffering or pain, the offender could face a maximum prison sentence of up to 12 months and a possible fine of up to $10,000.

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