A Tahoe City man accused of smuggling harmful amphibians into the United States pleaded guilty on Monday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.Officials said 47-year-old Andrew Laughlin acted as a “middleman” in an international amphibian smuggling ring.According to court documents, Laughlin admitted to an undercover agent that he participated in the smuggling ring in order to get ahold of hard-to-find newts.A search warrant on Laughlin’s home uncovered 81 live newts of various species. The attorney’s office said some of those newts tested positive for a virulent fungi that has caused significant declines in more than 500 species, more than 90 of which are now presumed extinct.As part of the smuggling ring, Laughlin shipped or received at least four packages of amphibians that were falsely labeled as items like, “toy car,” “rubber toys,” or “ceramic art piece.”Some of the animals actually inside those boxes were Eastern Box turtles, spotted turtles, fire belly newts, Asian warty newts and newts native to California.The attorney’s office said the shipments contained “injurious species,” meaning their introduction to the area could harm the ecosystems and natural resources.Laughlin pleaded guilty to one count of smuggling goods into the United States and will be sentenced on Oct. 7.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app.
A Tahoe City man accused of smuggling harmful amphibians into the United States pleaded guilty on Monday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Officials said 47-year-old Andrew Laughlin acted as a “middleman” in an international amphibian smuggling ring.
According to court documents, Laughlin admitted to an undercover agent that he participated in the smuggling ring in order to get ahold of hard-to-find newts.
A search warrant on Laughlin’s home uncovered 81 live newts of various species. The attorney’s office said some of those newts tested positive for a virulent fungi that has caused significant declines in more than 500 species, more than 90 of which are now presumed extinct.
As part of the smuggling ring, Laughlin shipped or received at least four packages of amphibians that were falsely labeled as items like, “toy car,” “rubber toys,” or “ceramic art piece.”
Some of the animals actually inside those boxes were Eastern Box turtles, spotted turtles, fire belly newts, Asian warty newts and newts native to California.
The attorney’s office said the shipments contained “injurious species,” meaning their introduction to the area could harm the ecosystems and natural resources.
Laughlin pleaded guilty to one count of smuggling goods into the United States and will be sentenced on Oct. 7.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app.
