A Brazilian man who was caught at Miami airport trying to smuggle seven baby tortoises concealed in his underwear and pockets was fined $400 (Bt12,000)by a U.S. judge on Wednesday.
Simon Turola Borges,30,who had been detained since August 25,pled guilty to smuggling and was sentenced to time served and ordered to be deported.
Prosecutors said Borges initially denied having anything hidden in his pants when Transportation Security Administration (TSA)officers at the airport pulled him aside for a further search after he went through a body scanner while preparing to board a flight to Brazil last month.
When asked to remove his clothes,Borges pulled his underwear away from his body and removed two nylon pantyhose containing numerous snakes and tortoises.
All of the creatures are protected under the CITES convention that restricts trade in animal species without special permits.(Reuters)