French customs intercept illegal wildlife shipments at Roissy Airport

French customs officials have uncovered several instances of illegal wildlife trafficking during the summer of 2026. At Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle Airport near Paris, an inspection of a package from Ghana led to the discovery of 32 emperor scorpions hidden in a false bottom. The incident began when a scorpion over ten centimeters long escaped from the parcel. While 29 scorpions survived the initial discovery, several died shortly after being transferred to the Amiens Métropole Zoo due to the stress of transport.

In a separate incident at the same airport, customs agents inspecting luggage from a traveler arriving from China discovered 20 dried seahorses concealed inside a rice cooker. These findings highlight an ongoing clandestine trade in protected species that threatens global biodiversity.