Man with nearly 100 tarantulas fined $12,800

A 34-year-old man was fined $12,800 on Wednesday for illegally importing and keeping tarantulas in his home.

Tam Jiaming was going through Tuas Checkpoint in a car on Jan 4 when he was directed to undergo checks and questioned by an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer.

He denied that he had anything to declare.

But upon inspection, the ICA officer found six live tarantulas, kept individually in containers, in a sling bag on the rear passenger seat.

Tam's case was then referred to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), which conducted follow-up checks at Tam's residence.

They found and seized an additional 92 tarantulas.

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PROTECTED

Tarantulas are not approved as pets in Singapore. Some of the tarantulas that Tam kept are species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites).

Singapore has been a member of Cites since 1986.

The tarantulas have since been placed under the care of Wildlife Reserves Singapore.

In a joint statement on Wednesday, AVA and ICA reminded the public that the keeping and trading of illegal wildlife and wildlife parts and products are punishable offences liable to a fine of up to $1,000 and the forfeiture of the wildlife.

Those convicted of importation, possession or sale of any Cites-protected species without Cites permits can be fined up to $50,000 per Cites-listed animal, not exceeding a maximum of $500,000, or sentenced to two years' imprisonment, or both.

If the animals in question are subjected to unnecessary suffering or pain, the offender may also be liable to a maximum fine of $10,000 or a year in jail, or both.

Members of the public can alert AVA via its feedback form (csp.ava.gov.sg/feedback) or call the agency at 6805-2992 about any suspected cases of illegal wildlife trade and provide information, which will be kept strictly confidential, said AVA.