Lorenzo Prendini

The apprehension of a U.S. professor at Istanbul Airport, caught while attempting to smuggle endemic animal species, including scorpions, has once again thrust Türkiye's biological richness into the spotlight.

This richness also makes Türkiye an attractive destination for biological smugglers.

An American museum director has been apprehended at Istanbul Airport attempting to smuggle around 1,500 tarantulas and scorpions back to the United States, authorities said on May 13.