Former Mountie Pleads Guilty To Smuggling Narwhal Tusks

BANGOR, Maine (AP) — A retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer accused of smuggling narwhal tusks has pleaded guilty in federal court in Maine to 10 money-laundering counts.

U.S. prosecutors say Gregory Logan of St. John, New Brunswick, smuggled 250 tusks worth $2 million across the border into Maine in false compartments in his vehicle. Narwhals are medium-sized whales known for spiral tusks that can grow longer than 8 feet. They are protected by the U.S. and Canada.

Logan, who entered the pleas Wednesday, faces up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine for each count. No sentencing date was set.

Logan was charged along with two U.S. residents.

Andrew Zarauskas of Union, New Jersey, was convicted and sentenced to 33 months. Charges against Jay Conrad of Lakeland, Tennessee, were dismissed.