Operation Flying Turtle Snares Japanese Turtle Smugglers

[Mulboyne]

AFP: Japanese Men Indicted on Turtle-Smuggling Conspiracy Charges
Two Japanese nationals were indicted today on charges of conspiring to smuggle more than 50 live turtles and tortoises into the United States by concealing them in snack food boxes found in a suitcase at Los Angeles International Airport. Atsushi Yamagami, 39, and Norihide Ushirozako, 49, were nabbed Jan. 7 at Los Angeles International Airport by agents with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The men are charged in a three-count federal indictment with conspiracy, animal smuggling and wildlife trafficking. If convicted of all charges, they face a maximum penalty of 26 years in federal prison, prosecutors said. Both defendants are being held without bail and are expected to be arraigned Monday in Los Angeles federal court. An investigation -- dubbed Operation Flying Turtle -- began about a year ago when agents learned about a smuggling operation bringing turtles into the country, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office...more...

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