Five Arrested for Illegal Trade in Protected Animals

It took a three-year undercover operation, but agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have been successful in arresting five persons for taking part in illegal international trade. The items they are accused of trading include exotic animal skins and items made from sea turtles and other wildlife, all of it from animals that are protected.

A federal grand jury handed down two indictments on August 22 and the arrests were made on September 6. They resulted from a joint investigation between the federal agents and Mexican authorities.

The indictments contain 54 counts on charges of smuggling and money laundering. According to the charges, the defendants smuggled in the neighborhood of 25 shipments from Mexico to the United States. The shipments contained wildlife skins and products including 700 tanned sea turtle, caiman, python as well as other protected animal's skins, as well as items made from the animal skins including boots, belts and wallets, The indictments also allege that approximately $60,000 was paid to suppliers in Mexico and money was also paid to smugglers for bringing the contraband across the border.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is a treaty that was signed by more than 170 countries including the United States and Mexico. Under this treaty, all trade in sea turtles or their parts for products for commercial use is prohibited. It does not only regulate the trade in sea turtles, but in the other wild live species that are mentioned in the indictment because they have been listed as being in risk of extinction. There are six species of sea turtles who call the coasts of Mexico home.

An indictment is an allegation of charges against a defendant and each one of the defendants is to be presumed innocent unless they are proven guilty in a court of law.