National Customs Agency seized 100 leopard geckos and 243 tarantulas in Interpol operation

The National Customs Agency seized 100 leopard geckos and 243 tarantulas as part of Operation Thunder 2024, coordinated by Interpol and the World Customs Organization. The operation took place from November 11, 2024, to December 6, 2024, with the participation of police, customs officers, border control, forestry and wildlife officials from 138 countries and regions, reported the National Customs Agency.

The reptiles and spiders were found in special containers hidden in the cabin of a truck traveling towards Turkiye. To ensure the survival of the animals, they were immediately transferred to a specialized terrarium in the village of Mineralni Bani, Haskovo district. To date, some of the geckos have been relocated to other terrariums in Bulgaria, while others have been given to schools for educational purposes.