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Coverage dated July 13, 2025 to July 15, 2025

'Noticeable smell' leads to discovery of 1,500 tarantulas in cake boxes

Headline from KAGS Bryan, from the development of Jul 14, 2025

Newest development Jul 16, 2025 · 2 reportsGerman customs officials discover tarantulas smuggled in spongecake boxes

A spokesperson said even the most experienced customs office employees were speechless after what they found.

KAGS Bryan's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Developments in this update

2 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. Names this update

    'Noticeable smell' leads to discovery of 1,500 tarantulas in cake boxes

    Headline from KAGS Bryan ·

  2. Newest

    German customs officials discover tarantulas smuggled in spongecake boxes

    Headline from East Idaho News ·

1 report not tied to one development ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

14 articles, oldest first.

  1. KAGS Bryan

    'Noticeable smell' leads to discovery of 1,500 tarantulas in cake boxes (opens KAGS Bryan)

    Published

    KAGS Bryan's feed description

    A spokesperson said even the most experienced customs office employees were speechless after what they found.

  2. PBS NewsHour

    German customs officers find 1,500 tarantulas hidden in spongecake boxes (opens PBS NewsHour)

    Published

    PBS NewsHour's feed description

    Roughly 1,500 young tarantulas were found inside plastic containers that had been hidden in chocolate spongecake boxes.

  3. CBS News

    1,500 tarantulas found stuffed in sponge cake boxes at German airport (opens CBS News)

    Published

    CBS News's feed description

    The arachnids were found at Cologne Bonn airport after customs officials were tipped off by a "noticeable smell" that did not match the expected aroma of the alleged treats.

  4. The Guardian

    About 1,500 tarantulas found hidden in cake boxes at German airport (opens The Guardian)

    Published

    The Guardian's feed description

    Customs officials at Cologne Bonn airport tipped off by ‘noticeable smell’ that did not resemble confectionary

  5. The World from PRX

    Smuggled tarantulas discovered in Germany (opens The World from PRX)

    Published

    The World from PRX's feed description

    Customs agents at the Cologne Bonn Airport in Germany revealed today that what appeared to be a shipment of chocolate cake mix, was in fact a package containing 1,500 tarantulas being smuggled from Vietnam. The young spiders were in plastic vials, and many did not survive the trip.

  6. New York Post

    1,500 tarantulas hidden in snack cake boxes smuggled into Germany (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    The incident occurred in Köln Bonn Airport in the city of Cologne, where officials noticed a large package allegedly filled with 15 pounds of snack cakes – but it did not smell quite so sweet.

  7. New Hampshire Union Leader

    Roughly 1,500 tarantulas found stuffed in boxes meant for chocolate cake (opens New Hampshire Union Leader)

    Published

    New Hampshire Union Leader's feed description

    Customs officials smelled that something was amiss even before they unpacked roughly 1,500 tarantulas that had been hidden in boxes that should have been filled with about 15 pounds of

  8. East Idaho News

    German customs officials discover tarantulas smuggled in spongecake boxes (opens East Idaho News)

    Published

    East Idaho News's feed description

    BERLIN (AP) — Arachnophobes beware: Customs officials on Monday released photos from a seizure of roughly 1,500 young tarantulas found inside plastic containers that had been hidden in chocolate spongecake boxes shipped to an airport in western Germany.

  9. Fox News

    German customs officials seize 1,500 tarantulas smuggled in international spongecake shipment (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    German customs officers discovered 1,500 tarantulas hidden in spongecake shipped from Vietnam, leading to criminal proceedings against the recipient.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.

'Noticeable smell' leads to discovery of 1,500 tarantulas in cake boxes | Since Then