Florida Busts Illegal Fishing and Sea Turtle Smuggling Ring; 10 Charged
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced on Monday, October 5, the takedown of an illegal fishing and sea turtle smuggling ring, with 10 people charged, WJNO reported. The operation targeted a network accused of poaching protected marine species and trafficking them for profit.
Investigators say the ring illegally harvested sea turtles — all species of which are protected under state and federal law — along with other regulated marine life, selling the animals and their parts on the black market. Undercover officers spent months infiltrating the network before making arrests.
The 10 defendants face a range of charges including illegal take of protected species, conspiracy, and trafficking. Several face potential prison time and the loss of commercial fishing licenses.
Uthmeier said the operation sends a clear message that Florida will not tolerate the exploitation of its marine resources. FWC officials urged the public to report suspected poaching through the agency's wildlife alert hotline.
(Source: WJNO)
Source: WJNO
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：一只红海龟（蠵龟）趴在海滩上。摄影：Ryan Hagerty / USFWS，公有领域，来源：Wikimedia Commons
