Scorpions surprise Polish customs

A student said the scorpions were for his exotic animal collection

Polish customs officers were surprised to find live scorpions in a parcel from Hong Kong supposed to contain toys.

The small parcel held 39 scorpions, 32 of them still alive, customs officials told AFP news agency.

The package was being sent to a 24-year-old student in Wroclaw who told police he wanted to add the scorpions to his collection of exotic animals.

A Customs Poland spokeswoman told AFP the low declared value of the "toys" aroused the suspicion of agents.

The declaration form on the parcel, filled out by the sender in Hong Kong, stated that the box contained toys worth $17 (£10).

"We usually check packages we have doubts about, for example ones where the declared value does not correspond with the declared content," the spokeswoman, Aldona Wegrzynowicz, said.

"This time we had a hunch."

A vet has identified the scorpions as Mesobuthus martensii - a moderately dangerous variety - AFP said.

The student could be fined $16,000 (£10,000) for violating customs laws.