Conspirators Sentenced in Multimillion-Dollar Reptile Smuggling Scheme

[bcr229]

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/consp...uggling-scheme

Press release is well worth reading.


Defendants' names here so text search will find them:
Ka Yeung Marvin Chan
Daisuke Miyauchi
Chun Ku (Dynasty Reptiles)

[Bogertophis]

Glad they got busted.

[Malum Argenteum]

"On Nov. 18, 2022, Ku was sentenced to concurrent terms of one year and one day imprisonment, two years’ supervised release and a $20,000 fine."

For smuggling almost nine thousand CITES animals worth five million? Almost like not being busted at all.

It doesn't help that people like this can still do business in the mainstream reptile market. Blacklisting convicted traffickers would help some, but the websites that could make this happen don't seem to have the stomach to keep the bad actors out.

[Bogertophis]

You're right, Malum, it's just not enough- that's more like a slap on the wrist.

[YungRasputin]

crazy world - i remember seeing this company on MM for some species i was looking at - good thing i didn’t do biz with thems - this sort of thing should be an automatic blacklisting on *all* platforms and marketplaces, full stop

it’s also self-defeating - how could we ever develop relationships with conservation scientists with �� like this

[Yamitaifu]

"

It doesn't help that people like this can still do business in the mainstream reptile market. Blacklisting convicted traffickers would help some, but the websites that could make this happen don't seem to have the stomach to keep the bad actors out.

Cough, cough, Crutchfield, cough, cough.

Still respected and viewed as a role model by too many although he was extradited from Belize after fleeing the US and convicted. The reptile community needs to start policing itself instead of just screaming "muh freedumbs" when faced with laws being passed. Only then can we work with fish and wildlife to have laws in place that allow people to safely and ethically keep animals while ensuring that we don't negatively harm native wildlife or their wild populations.

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

[Bogertophis]

Speaking of "cough, cough, Crutchfield, cough, cough", I think this book was mentioned somewhere, but it bears another: (It's on my bookshelf.)

"Stolen World" by Jennie Erin Smith "A tale of reptiles, smugglers, and skulduggery" pub. by Crown c. 2011 Please everyone, think before you buy. Don't support the traffickers.

[Malum Argenteum]

Relevant and enjoyable book: Stolen World

Another book in the same vein, with similar connections to the discussion at hand though a different protagonist: The Lizard King

[Malum Argenteum]

Speaking of "cough, cough, Crutchfield, cough, cough", I think this book was mentioned somewhere, but it bears another: (It's on my bookshelf.)

"Stolen World" by Jennie Erin Smith "A tale of reptiles, smugglers, and skulduggery" pub. by Crown c. 2011 Please everyone, think before you buy. Don't support the traffickers.

You beat me to it. Great minds...