US museum curator allegedly tried to smuggle 1,500 dead spiders and scorpions from Turkey

ISTANBUL – A curator at the American Museum of Natural History was arrested in Istanbul on Monday while allegedly trying to smuggle spider and scorpion samples, Turkish media reported. The curator said he had permission from the government to conduct his research.

Lorenzo Prendini, an arachnid expert at the New York museum, was detained by police at Istanbul airport as he allegedly tried to take about 1,500 samples out of the country, news outlets reported.

State news agency Anadolu reported that Prendini was arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle species found in Turkey.

A video published by the Demiroren news agency showed officers searching hand luggage and removing plastic bags that appeared to be filled with dead spiders and scorpions.

In an emailed comment to The Associated Press, Prendini said police disregarded the Turkish government’s permissions to conduct his research in collaboration with Turkish scientists.

“The police completely ignored this and relied on the testimony of an ‘expert’ who has a conflict of interest with my associates … and whose scientific research is highly questionable,” he said.

“The police have completely violated due process and it looks like they want to find me guilty in the court of public opinion.”

The museum’s website lists Prendini as the curator of its spider, scorpion, centipede and centipede collections. It is said that his research on spiders and scorpions took him to more than 30 countries.