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.

Customs officials have released photos from a seizure of roughly 1,500 young tarantulas found inside plastic containers that had been hidden in spongecake boxes shipped to an airport in Germany.

Customs officials said they see a lot of illegal goods from all over the world but were left speechless by this package from Vietnam.