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TwoAlaskans have pleaded guilty to illegally trading the tusks of about 100walruses with Eskimo hunters.
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| Indigenous Alaskans are allowed to hunt walruses for food |
The pairwere arrested in April with the ivory tusks, along with two polar bear hides.
They hadswapped the animal parts with the hunters in exchange for money, guns,cigarettes and at least one snowmobile.
IndigenousAlaskans are allowed to hunt walruses but they are not permitted to sell thetusks.
The stateprosecutor declined to comment on whether the hunters would also be charged,according to the Anchorage Daily News.
Prosecutorssay this is Alaska's biggest wildlife trafficking case for nearly two decades.
A thirddefendant is expected to plead guilty to similar charges next week.
The threehad obtained about 500 pounds (227kg) of walrus tusks from Yup'ik Eskimohunters in the village of Savoonga, court documents say.
The pairpleaded guilty under a plea bargain and prosecutors have asked for prison termsof at least five years.
Two of thedefendants asked for permission to get married before they are sentenced inNovember.
They fearthat if they are not married, they will not be able to send letters to eachother in separate prisons.
The judgesaid he would try to accommodate their request.
