Two indicted in tortoise smuggling

[Buslady]

I almost bought a redfoot tortoise from this bobby guy! AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Glad I didn't.

Two indicted in tortoise smuggling
A Diamond Bar man allegedly sold the endangered reptiles shipped from Asia.
By Andrew Blankstein, L.A. Times Staff Writer
May 18, 2007

The overnight delivery packages that arrived with regularity from Asia at the Spanish-style home in suburban Diamond Bar were labeled "toys" and "action figures." But inside, authorities said, crawled rare, endangered tortoises illegally plucked from native habitats across Asia, including India.

From Diamond Bar, at least 75 tortoises — along with some rare monitor lizards — were sold to exotic pet collectors across the country, with some of the rarest reptiles fetching thousands of dollars each. On Thursday, authorities indicted two of the alleged ringleaders of the operation, capping a four-year investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Authorities called the case a particularly egregious example of what is a growing black market of exotic reptiles.

"We've had snakes come into Chicago and smuggling cases involving turtles and iguanas," said Scott Flaherty, with the California office of the Fish and Wildlife Service. "But it's worldwide."

Wai Ho Gin, a.k.a. "Bobby Gin," faces more than a dozen charges of smuggling, conspiracy and money laundering. Umesh Kishore Tekani, a.k.a. "Mexx," faces the same charges but is believed to be in Singapore, the hub for transporting the tortoises into the U.S. The pair are among six people charged so far, including wealthy customers from Southern California to the East Coast, who allegedly bought tortoises.

The smuggled species included Burmese, Indian star, pancake and radiated tortoises as well as green tree monitors. Tortoises, whose importation is prohibited under the Endangered Species Act, are popular for their colorful shells and distinctive shapes. The Indian stars, for example, are known for their bright sunburst-like shells. The radiated tortoises have a shell with multiple humps and detailed patterns. In addition to being purchased as pets, some are also used for their purported medicinal benefits or as jewelry.

Federal authorities say they have e-mail correspondence dating from August 2002 in which Tekani allegedly offered to sell and ship tortoises to Gin in Diamond Bar. In a 33-page affidavit, federal authorities detailed how Tekani allegedly packaged the reptiles to look like toy shipments. One shipment had a layer of toy action figures on top of newspapers, prosecutors said. Below it were 51 live Indian star tortoises packed three to each of 17 plastic containers.

Federal investigators said they also linked Gin to ads for Burmese and Indian star tortoises placed on the website http://www.kingsnake.com .

When undercover investigators contacted him by phone in 2003, agents allege he told them he had "seven female star tortoises left at $350 each." Gin also said there were other breeds available that he "bred and raised … at his house," the government alleged. The agent eventually paid $600 for two of the tortoises.

The government also gathered evidence linking the shipments to Tekani. Anthony Eaglin, Gin's attorney, said he was reviewing the case and wouldn't comment on the government's allegations "just yet."

Also indicted in the case were David Yeh, 35, of Newport Beach; Barry Lambert, 36, of La Mesa; Ralph Hoekstra, 69; of Huntington Beach and Jody Patterson, 46, of Norfolk, Va. They have pleaded guilty and been sentenced to probation.

Officials said Gin and Tekani face up to five years in federal prison, if convicted. The statutory maximum penalty for money laundering is 20 years.

Flaherty said the federal government does not keep statistics on animal smuggling or trafficking. But during his eight years with the Fish and Wildlife Service in the Midwest, he recalled numerous illegal cases of smuggling, not only from overseas to the United States but also across state lines.
Officials for the World Wildlife Fund, however, put the black market in exotic animals — including snakes, lizards, turtles and birds — in the billions, with profit margins that can be larger than drug dealing.

Other smuggling rings have been busted in San Francisco, London and East Coast cities.

[Kunoichi_Haruko]

Damn, Buslady, that was a close call— glad you didn't wind up in this mess.

[Tinuvielsdreams]

WOW! You just never know do you? Glad you didn't buy the turtle, good instincts.
Grrrr! I hope they throw the book at those guys, those poor animals

[Buslady]

oh yeah they're in deep doodie. they has a whole lot of radiated & indian stars which are like some of the most protected species.

[Warhorse]

In Florida, they have scouts (good guys here) that watch out for seaturtles to come ashore to lay their eggs, and once one has been spotted, they have infrared camera's mounted on nearby buidlings and hotels to record the going on with the Turtles. One tape caught some people getting ready to grab the eggs, and the cops came and arrested them. I'm not sure what's going to happen to them, but then some beach goers came nearyby another turtle in the middle of laying her eggs, patting her, and they were arrested and slapped with a ten thousand dollar fine, each, which will be taken from them in the form of the judgement lean.

Dont f%^&*ck with endangered turtles, it will catch up with you in the end!

[Buslady]

what retards!!

you know why you can touch a nesting turtle and they wont do a thing?

experts believe they go into some kind of trance. They won't even acknowledge you there. it's weird

[Warhorse]

Originally Posted by Buslady

what retards!!

you know why you can touch a nesting turtle and they wont do a thing?

experts believe they go into some kind of trance. They won't even acknowledge you there. it's weird

While I hate my state more and more every day because of the corruption going on. I have to give props to the hard work that the wildlife management is doing in helping with endangered animals. They even got a law passed, that buidings and hotels have to have their bright lights turned off during nesting season. Apparently, in the past, baby Turtles would hatch, and their insticts are to follow the moon to the ocean. But the lights on the hotels and beach front properties would confuse the babies, and they would go towards them instead of the moon.

[Katie]

UGH. I use Kingsnake all the time for my geckos (sell and purchase thereof.) It's a pretty good sight for networking with some big name herpetologists.(Vosjoli sent me some gargoyle geckos and other rhacodactyls.)


I too had seen this ad for redfoots...and had contimplated it. I've always thought it would be cool to have one ever since we first had one in the pet store I used to work at.

Glad other things got in my way and I couldn't get it. (like I need any more animals...and reptiles in particular)

[Scandia]

Smuggling totally angers me.

Some smuggler tried to smuggle some Egyptian tortoises into Italy recently. The baby tortoises look just liike the baby TMNT, so I was like "awwww" at the pic. But I do not think the TMNT belonged to this species.

[RaphistheBest]

Originally Posted by Warhorse

One tape caught some people getting ready to grab the eggs, and the cops came and arrested them. I'm not sure what's going to happen to them, but then some beach goers came nearyby another turtle in the middle of laying her eggs, patting her, and they were arrested and slapped with a ten thousand dollar fine, each, which will be taken from them in the form of the judgement lean.

Holy sh*t! A $10,000 fine! That's gotta suck. I mean, if I walking on the beach and saw something like that I would want to go up and touch the turtle too. But, being from the middle of nowhere and understanding animals would keep me from doing something stupid like that.

Originally Posted by Warhorse

While I hate my state more and more every day because of the corruption going on. I have to give props to the hard work that the wildlife management is doing in helping with endangered animals. They even got a law passed, that buidings and hotels have to have their bright lights turned off during nesting season. Apparently, in the past, baby Turtles would hatch, and their insticts are to follow the moon to the ocean. But the lights on the hotels and beach front properties would confuse the babies, and they would go towards them instead of the moon.

I never knew that something like that ever happened. Course, I live right on the state line between IL and IN so I guess that's something that only people who lived there would know about or people that researched something like this. Glad there's a law now.

[Buslady]

Originally Posted by Warhorse

While I hate my state more and more every day because of the corruption going on. I have to give props to the hard work that the wildlife management is doing in helping with endangered animals. They even got a law passed, that buidings and hotels have to have their bright lights turned off during nesting season. Apparently, in the past, baby Turtles would hatch, and their insticts are to follow the moon to the ocean. But the lights on the hotels and beach front properties would confuse the babies, and they would go towards them instead of the moon.

Actually Florida's screwed when it comes to their wildlife. You do know of them allowing developers to simply BUY Gopher Tortoises's deaths? They pay such & such $$ and start digging and burying hibernating Gopher Torts! I hate Florida for that. And I grew up there.

[Warhorse]

Originally Posted by Buslady

Actually Florida's screwed when it comes to their wildlife. You do know of them allowing developers to simply BUY Gopher Tortoises's deaths? They pay such & such $$ and start digging and burying hibernating Gopher Torts! I hate Florida for that. And I grew up there.

The politicians are corrupt, but the wildlife management is doing the best they can in protecting the wild life. Like I said, they have installed millions of dollars of cameras to keep an eye on the Turtles, and to watch out for poachers. If you are caught poaching for aligators in off seasons, there are tens of thousands of dollars on fines and possibly years of inprisonment.

I also think it's unfair to label Florida, when the whole world participates in brutal practices. Our own president signed for the ok of wild horses to be rounded up and have three chances of being adopted. If they are not adopted by the third time, they are sent to the slaughterhouse, where I hear the Govenrment sells the meat to overseas markets who eat horses as a delicacy.

http://www.proliberty.com/observer/20041211.htm

But then, this is nothing compared to what I've learned with what's going on in Japan. I've seen videos of people in Japan slaughtering dolphins, and I was just shocked and saddened by that. How could anyone kill a dolphin is beyond me. Much less hack it to pieces and just leave it there,flopping in pain until it finally dies (word is, they kill the dolphins as painfully as possible because the adrenaline pumping in them is supposed to produce tasty meat. There is no defense for this. It's just cold hearted and cruel.

I would give you a link to the videos I've seen, but I prefer to save you from the nightmare.

[Buslady]

Originally Posted by Warhorse

The politicians are corrupt, but the wildlife management is doing the best they can in protecting the wild life. Like I said, they have installed millions of dollars of cameras to keep an eye on the Turtles, and to watch out for poachers. If you are caught poaching for aligators in off seasons, there are tens of thousands of dollars on fines and possibly years of inprisonment.

I also think it's unfair to label Florida, when the whole world participates in brutal practices. Our own president signed for the ok of wild horses to be rounded up and have three chances of being adopted. If they are not adopted by the third time, they are sent to the slaughterhouse, where I hear the Govenrment sells the meat to overseas markets who eat horses as a delicacy.

http://www.proliberty.com/observer/20041211.htm

But then, this is nothing compared to what I've learned with what's going on in Japan. I've seen videos of people in Japan slaughtering dolphins, and I was just shocked and saddened by that. How could anyone kill a dolphin is beyond me. Much less hack it to pieces and just leave it there,flopping in pain until it finally dies (word is, they kill the dolphins as painfully as possible because the adrenaline pumping in them is supposed to produce tasty meat. There is no defense for this. It's just cold hearted and cruel.

I would give you a link to the videos I've seen, but I prefer to save you from the nightmare.

oh believe me i know fla isnt the only screwball joint. in the asian countries they hack up turtles with saws while alive. the images are heartwrenching. they catch turtles to the point just about every asian species is endangered. I just read in south america, catholics consider tortoise meat "fish" for those days they can't eat meat, they go hunt the hell out of redfoot tortoises and eat them...if it continues, in a couple years they'll be considered endangered species. The only way turtles are gonna survive now are cos of turtle keepers, it's pathetic for an animal who've been on earth WAY before dinosaurs....it takes a selfish species like humans to wipe them out.

How about shark fin soup? they catch, hack off the fins and dump the rest of the shark to die in the sea.

hell, look how we keep dairy cattle..in mud holes up to their hocks, poo that reeks the air for miles...there's a piece of dirt nearby that is so contaminated with methane they can't built the new middle school until it's cleaned up.

the Japanese have been slaughtering dolphins like that for years...it's so gross it's insane. the waters are red, they're hacking away...it's so freaking gross.
I hate it...I both love and hate the asian cultures....their cruelty overshadows their beauty.

[Warhorse]

But why are the Asian countries doing that? How come they feel the need to eat every living creature on this planet, and to consume so much of it, to the point having the animal go extinct?

Actually, that seems to be something man has been taking part of for centuries. A good deal dont kill for neccessity, but for pleasure. Like your trophy hunters, poachers and underground animal trading. I bet if dinosaurs were to come back today, the animal acitvists and wildlife preservists would have their work cut out on just keeping the animals alive from poachers who just want blood.

Did you hear about the story about the Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand? He was sold to Japanese investors who brought the stallion back to Japan for stud. His influence to their racing stock has been instrumental to Japan's success on the world wide racing circuits.

But when the stallion became past his prime, they had him slaughtered and sent to various high dining resturants.

Before I began to realize the cruelty of horseracing, I was into it big as a spectator when I was a kid. My most favorite racehorse of the time, and of all time, Sunday Silence, I would later learn, was bought by Japanese investors as well. He apparently died of a heart attack at 16 years. But what is the real story, is up in the air. I really hope that Japan has become more humane, and Sunday got the respect he deserved after his death, but I still have that little notion that he may have met the same fate as Ferdinand.

[Buslady]

Originally Posted by Warhorse

But why are the Asian countries doing that? How come they feel the need to eat every living creature on this planet, and to consume so much of it, to the point having the animal go extinct?

Actually, that seems to be something man has been taking part of for centuries. A good deal dont kill for neccessity, but for pleasure. Like your trophy hunters, poachers and underground animal trading. I bet if dinosaurs were to come back today, the animal acitvists and wildlife preservists would have their work cut out on just keeping the animals alive from poachers who just want blood.

Did you hear about the story about the Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand? He was sold to Japanese investors who brought the stallion back to Japan for stud. His influence to their racing stock has been instrumental to Japan's success on the world wide racing circuits.

But when the stallion became past his prime, they had him slaughtered and sent to various high dining resturants.

Before I began to realize the cruelty of horseracing, I was into it big as a spectator when I was a kid. My most favorite racehorse of the time, and of all time, Sunday Silence, I would later learn, was bought by Japanese investors as well. He apparently died of a heart attack at 16 years. But what is the real story, is up in the air. I really hope that Japan has become more humane, and Sunday got the respect he deserved after his death, but I still have that little notion that he may have met the same fate as Ferdinand.

ewwwwww I remember ferdinand...i didnt know he got eaten...that's gross! horsemeat period...ewwwwwwwwwww

[Warhorse]

Originally Posted by Buslady

ewwwwww I remember ferdinand...i didnt know he got eaten...that's gross! horsemeat period...ewwwwwwwwwww

Yeah, I could never eat a horse. I just think of them more as companion animals like a dog or cat, than a source of food.

But, with the way the gas prices are going, I think the reamerge of the horse as a primary source of transportation is not that far off into the future. Kind of like how it was in the movie The Postman.

[Buslady]

Originally Posted by Warhorse

Yeah, I could never eat a horse. I just think of them more as companion animals like a dog or cat, than a source of food.

But, with the way the gas prices are going, I think the reamerge of the horse as a primary source of transportation is not that far off into the future. Kind of like how it was in the movie The Postman.

Sometimes I wish we could go back to horsepower.
Although I love my new car, horses do have more personality and they are affectionate and gorgeous...'course you already know that LOL!