New York sting operation nets 25 people accused of trafficking in protected reptiles

New York sting operation nets 25 people accused of trafficking in protected reptiles
MARY ESCH , Star Tribune


ALBANY, N.Y. - An undercover investigation into poaching and illegal sales of New York's native turtles, snakes and salamanders has led to charges against 25 people, state environmental officials said Thursday.
More than 2,400 animals, including different species of protected turtles and venomous snakes, were documented in illegal sales or poaching during the two-year operation, officials said.
Investigators posed as vendors at herpetological shows in New York and Pennsylvania, spent hundreds of hours with poachers and trolled Internet sales sites and chat rooms during the operation, authorities said.
In one instance, agents found dozens of endangered Massasauga rattlesnakes hidden in the door panels of a minivan and smuggled from Canada. They had been exchanged for timber rattlesnakes, a threatened species in New York. Canadian agencies brought charges against a man in that case, officials said.
Those charged include 18 people in New York state, six in Pennsylvania, and one in Canada. Charges include buying or selling protected animals and unlawfully possessing or taking protected wildlife.
The investigation also prompted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to pursue federal charges against a Maryland meat processor for buying hundreds of illegally trapped New York snapping turtles, and against a Louisiana turtle farm operator for buying thousands of New York snapping turtle hatchlings for export to China, officials said.
The companies have not been formally charged.
Many of the animals will be returned to their native habitats.
New York has one of the strictest laws in the country protecting its reptiles and amphibians from being bought and sold. A law enacted in 2006 bans all commercial trade in the state's native reptiles and amphibians.
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http://www.startribune.com/nation/41493677.html

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Thank you, Michael

I asked Dawn to post this for me. I need to work on my computer skills a little so I can do things like that myself.

I found the article real interesting. The biggest arrests seem to be for turtles and venomous snakes. Their is some mention of arresting people for illegal native salamanders. They also mention that internet sales sites and chatrooms were monitored.

Just goes to show that they DO look at sites and chat rooms. It's a shame, really. Illegal acts keep the rest of us from enjoying the hobby.

I, for one am glad they use the web to nab scum.

Busts like this make me do the "Scrawny Pale Guy Dance" in public.

Good on 'em for catching those folks.

And good on all you for posting this article.

ya I live in Syracuse I heard about this a few days ago

Yeah, I live in syracuse too.. looks like us new yorkers are getting a lot of attention on this forum lately between this incident, and "Rocky" the snakehead fish.