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.

German customs officials found the hairy, venomous spiders crammed into small plastic containers inside bright-red cake boxes.

German customs authorities have found some 1,500 tarantulas concealed within chocolate sponge cake boxes at Cologne/Bonn Airport during a seizure. Cologne customs spokesman Jens Ahland said on Monday that the package,