Los Angeles International Airport officials say that thousands of items of illegal wildlife contraband have been seized by inspectors since October, with some items like turtle skulls, kangaroo meat and elephant toenails being taken.
“Since the beginning of 2024 fiscal year — Oct. 1, 2023 — to date, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and agriculture specialists … in coordination with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials detained 4,227 animal and plant products for violating wildlife laws and regulations and international endangered species conventions,” said Jaime Ruiz of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in a statement.
Among the items that have been detained are crocodile skulls, jerky, belts, wallets, taxidermy baby crocodiles, turtle skulls, skinsk, kangaroo meat, tails, ears, elephant toenails, exotic butterflies, peacock feathers, sea shells, coral, sea cucumbers, shark cartilages and sea lion oil gelcaps.