Natural History Museum curator detained in Turkey for trying to smuggle 1,500 spider, scorpion samples
An American Museum of Natural History curator was detained in Istanbul after allegedly attempting to smuggle 1,500 spider, tarantula and scorpion samples out of the country.
Lorenzo Prendini, an expert on arachnids at the Upper West Side museum, was stopped by police at Istanbul Airport on Monday after trying to bring endemic poisonous species out of the country, according to Turkish news reports.
Prendini was detained after authorities found 88 plastic tube bottles containing liquids and 58 clip-on bags with approximately 1,500 scorpions, tarantulas and spiders endemic to Turkey inside his luggage, State-run Anadolu news agency reported.
According to the local report, some of the scorpion venom Prendini had in his bag can be used to make medicine, which has a market value of around $10 million.
While Anadolu reported that Prendini was detained for allegedly attempting to smuggle the species found in Turkey, Prendini told the Associated Press that he appeared before a judge and was released without charge.
The Post has reached out to Prendini for comment.
Prendini said the police had flouted permits from the Turkish government to conduct his research, which he had been doing with Turkish scientists.
“The police completely ignored this and relied on the testimony of an ‘expert’ who has a conflict of interest with my collaborators … and whose scientific research is highly questionable,” he said.
“The police have completely violated due process and it appears they would like to find me guilty in the court of public opinion.”
The Museum of Natural History lists Prendini as the curator of its spider, scorpion, centipede and millipede collections.
The museum did not immediately return request for comment from The Post.
With Post wires.
