Turtle Smuggling Arrest in Los Angeles, Over 50 Live Reptiles Recovered at Airport

LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) Two men from Japan have been arrested for allegedly smuggling more than 50 live turtles and tortoises into the United States.

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Federal prosecutors say the creatures were concealed in snack food boxes found in a suitcase at Los Angeles International Airport.

The U.S. attorney's office said Monday that Atsushi Yamagami and Norihide Ushirozako, both from Osaka, were arrested Friday at LAX.

Both men were charged with one count of illegally importing wildlife and one count of violating the Endangered Species Act.

The arrests were tied to an undercover investigation that began last year into a smuggling operation that brought turtles into the U.S.

If convicted, they each face up to 21 years in prison. They are scheduled to be arraigned January 31.