Men accused of illegally selling turtles

BALTIMORE, June 11 (UPI) -- Two street vendors were arrested in Baltimore for illegally selling young turtles as pets, police said.

Maryland Natural Resources Officer K. Michael Lathroum said the arrests are part of an ongoing effort to stop the illegal sale of turtles, The Baltimore Sun said Thursday.

Officials seized 96 turtles from the men.

"It's been an ongoing problem [in Maryland] for the past two years or so," Lathroum said. "The majority of the hatchlings are coming from turtle farms in Louisiana and Florida."

Lathroum said the suspects likely purchased the turtles for as little as 50 cents a piece out of state, then sold the animals in Baltimore for up to $15 each.

The Sun said the suspects, one of whom was arrested on May 30 and the other on Monday, now face up to a year in prison if convicted of trying to sell an exotic animal and vending without a required permit.