Six Arrested For Smuggling Snakes, Tortoises

A three-year investigation culminated with the arrest of six people for allegedly smuggling more than 100 rare snakes and tortoises from Madagascar into Canada and the United States.

The six were charged Thursday with smuggling 51 radiated tortoises, 94 Madagascan tree boas and 25 spider tortoises from the Indian Ocean island by hiding them in airline passenger baggage.

Payment for the animals was made by wire transfers from Canada, through the United States to Europe, the Justice Department said Thursday.