The remarkable video shows customs seizing a venomous emperor scorpion from a shipment of containerised timber.

Footage captured in the city of Suzhou, in China’s eastern coastal province of Jiangsu, depicted two customs officers inspecting the logs in a shipping container from Africa on 11th March.

One of them then examined the cargo and used a pair of tweezers to capture the scorpion he detected in the lumber, while the other used his smartphone to record the catch.

In the next scene, the first officer can be seen holding the jar in the air and showcasing the creature, later identified as an emperor scorpion.

Suzhou Customs said in a statement obtained by AsiaWire: “Currently, following a risk assessment, the aforementioned goods have undergone fumigation and pest control measures under the supervision of Suzhou Customs.”

The clip reached more than 22,000 likes and over 2,500 shares on China’s version of TikTok, Douyin. Where it was shared on 19th March.

Native to the rainforests and savannas in Western Africa. The emperor scorpion (Pandinus imperator), is a popular species in the pet trade.

Considered one of the largest scorpions in the world. It is protected by CITES to prevent over-collecting that might affect the species’ survival.

The species depend on their large claws to hunt and protect themselves. However, their sting is only mildly venomous and generally not life-threatening to healthy adults.