(KTLA) – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials intercepted dozens of live beetles concealed in Japanese snack packages at the Los Angeles International Airport last month.
Agriculture specialists assigned to the airport discovered 37 live beetles hidden inside packages of Japanese snacks, chocolate and potato chips, the CBP said.
The contraband was discovered during a physical examination of a shipment arriving from Japan via air cargo last month. The items are valued at $1,480.
“They may look harmless, but in reality, smuggled beetles pose a significant threat to our vital agriculture resources,” Cheryl M. Davies, CBP director of field operations in Los Angeles, said in a statement. “Beetles can become a serious pest by eating plants, leaves, and roots and by laying eggs on tree bark, which damages our forests.”
The department said collectors and enthusiasts often seek after exotic insects. Illegally trading exotic insects online and on underground sources can be lucrative.
Officials said importing live insects into the U.S. requires a U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Inspection Service Plant Protection and Quarantine permit or a letter issued by the PPQ Plants, Pathogens and Biocontrol unit.
The live beetles were turned over to USDA officials, who will determine their destination. The CBP said the beetles will likely be donated to local zoos that have permits for live insects or preserved in collections.
