2 arrested in Los Angeles in turtle smuggling case

Should I ask .. WHY they want 50+ turtles so desperately to risk the consequences of smuggling?

Can't be for making turtle soup for a one time banquet

Britlassy, I'm afraid you're not going to like the answer.

Most smuggled turtles and tortoises in the US wind up in the exotic pet trade, followed by traditional medicines and jewelry. The USFWS has a lot of articles (search the www.justice.gov website for a sampling of charges brought against smugglers of live turtle/tortoise/and other reptiles, as well as their meat, preserved parts, hides, and eggs).

Worldwide, smuggling of reptiles for the exotic pet trade is considered to be one of the biggest threats to many species, sometimes concurrently with exploiting them for food, traditional medicines, and for products made from their shells or skins.

Good for you 4AWord.... I would rather eat lawn grass with Velveeta as a sauce.....

WB-614103.. You are indeed correct, I didn't like it, nor do I understand mentality of exploitation of living things, or the murdering for some purpose that is supposedly meant to improve some human condition or ailment.

Let's see them catch something that can run away -- like a mouse or a cheetah. Anyone can catch a turtle!

i like turtles.

wow... 21 years for some turtles.... totally not worth it.

ruthlessmoose-A lot of wildlife agents think the charges for wildlife smuggling aren't high enough though.

Britlassy, I found some more info...(Honolulu Star) The animals included 20 fly river turtles, 20 Burmese star tortoises and two white-fronted box turtles. Two of the species involved are not just protected by US laws, but by international bans...for those two species, they might have faced a violation of the Endangered Species Act for each individual animal instead of just one count for the lot.

Both of these species are CITES II species. Fly river turtle (aka pig-nosed turtle) eggs are taken from the wild populations and hatched for the pet trade. The countries (Indonesia, Australia, and Papua New Guinea) that this species is found bans their export and the US bans their import without special permits. The Burmese starred tortoise's country of origin (Mayanmar) has never granted export permits for them. All are illegally smuggled, descendants of illegally smuggled animals, or are descendants of those exported from Mayanmar before 2000 (also many exported illegally).

4Aword: You're right, and good for you. Turtle soup, shark fin soup, several caviars, monkeys, reptiles, exotic leather goods (reptile hide especially), feathers from most birds, snake wine, any cat or bear parts, any animal-derived ivory, many orchids, many cacti, most coral, butterflies, etc...if overseas or in the US, it's generally best to avoid them as at the least, they tend to come from heavily exploited populations.

And it's almost impossible to tell which ones that are legal if certain conditions are met and which are illegal, as the illegal ones are smuggled into and hidden by the legal trade. Some things are legal only if certifications are met or are from specific populations, such as orchids and cacti grown and bred by licensed and reputable nurseries, or a bear hide marked by a wildlife agent with a special tag. Otherwise, well...it's anybody's guess.

(you all can tell I have more than a passing interest in this stuff, can't you?)

.........and after Japan refused Paris Hilton to enter their country! Shame on them....we'll keep our coke startlet and you guys keep your Samonella!.......turtles carry diseases!

They need to lock these idiots up for a very long time and set a precedent. This is how we got the snakehead fish and Asian flying carp invasions, among others, that are wreaking havoc on our native wildlife.

Here we go again; Those smugglers should be shot. Asian nations have a very weird appetite. There is nothing "Normal" there. They tend to associate exotic foods will give them a sexual lift. I saw some of the most horrible dishes served in eateries. I could only wonder..."WHY"??? I will not go into fine detail but it is out there, and no end in sight. If this article is disturbing, Then don't watch NatGo's the cove. You will hate the japanese for their horrendous killing of dolphins and whales. I only wish that more of us will raise more Hell to anyone that will listen to end this barbaric practice. Again, as the name says it how I feel, Yes it does smells of poo.