A Japanese man was arrested Monday at Los Angeles International Airport on federal charges of trafficking numerous endangered butterfly species protected by global treaties.
Hisayoshi Kojima, 55, of Kyoto, was arrested by U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials after arriving from Japan with several dried specimens, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Johns said.
The arrest follows an extensive three-year undercover investigation into allegations Kojima purchased hundreds of rare and endangered butterflies from Europe and smuggled them to collectors in the United States.