German unmasked in 'Operation Spiderman'

Sven Koppler, 37, Watchberg, Germany, was picked up shortly after arriving in Los Angeles to meet with an association, the U.S. attorney's office announced Friday.

Koppler was charged with violating animal-smuggling laws and ordered to appear in federal court Friday afternoon.

Prosecutors said in a written statement that Koppler allegedly twice shipped boxes packed with between 250 and 300 live spiders from Germany to Los Angeles. The discovery of one of the shipments during a routine inspection of international mail sparked the undercover operation dubbed "Operation Spiderman."

Postal inspectors and agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service posed as buyers and had Koppel mail them five boxes holding dozens of tarantulas. Among the spiders were several Mexican red-kneed tarantulas, a species that is protected under international law, the statement said.

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