ROYAL OAK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Zoo is caring for more than 1,000 turtles that it says authorities believe are tied to an international smuggling ring.

The zoo said in a news release Friday that some turtles were found stuffed into rubber snow boots and cereal boxes inside a Canadian man’s luggage at Detroit Metropolitan Airport last week.

The zoo says the incident is connected to a smuggling ring that authorities say is led by another Canadian who attempted in August to cross the border with 51 turtles in his pants.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service didn’t return a message seeking details Friday.

The 1,007 confiscated reptiles are mostly juvenile hatchlings less than a month old, and include more than 750 diamondback terrapins.

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