CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

Wildlife Smuggling a U.S. Border Problem
June 24, 2005 11:20 AM EDT
BROWNSVILLE, Texas - When it comes to smuggling animals across the U.S.-Mexico border, U.S. Wildlife Inspector Ed Marshall has seen it all.

Exotic birds given Valium or tequila so they stay quiet through Customs inspections. Sleeves moving with hidden reptiles. Wildcats stashed in trunks. Last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents seized two white tigers on their way to Mexico.

And in 2001, an African elephant was smuggled across the Gateway International Bridge on a truck. "They call it the 'Dumbo Case,'" Marshall said, shaking his head.

The contraband is part of a global trade in endangered wildlife estimated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at $4.2 billion a year, second only to illegal drugs.

"People don't realize how serious and how important this is and that this is linked to organized crime," said Crawford Allan of the World Wildlife Fund.

Experts say the trade depletes endangered species and spreads diseases such as avian influenza because the smuggled animals are not examined and quarantined. Many of the animals do not survive the trip.

The trade works both ways on the U.S.-Mexico border, and it is believed that Latin drug kingpins with private zoos or exotic game camps are business for breeders operating clandestinely on Texas ranches.

"It's a macho drug culture thing," said Pat Burchfield, deputy director of Brownsville's Gladys Porter Zoo. "They're attention-getters, it's a status thing. Very rarely is the best interest of the animal involved."

Seized animals that are now part of the zoo's collection include mantled howling monkeys, pygmy marmosets, Amazon parrots, a leopard and a pair of lions named Mario and Juana, in honor of their discovery during a marijuana bust.

The United States and Europe are some of the biggest markets for smuggled animals, with enough people who can afford to own something rare, according to the World Wildlife Fund. China is another big market because of interest in traditional elixirs such as ground rhinoceros horn, believed to have aphrodisiac qualities.

Although more than 160 countries have signed on to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which is aimed at safeguarding endangered plants and animals, enforcement is a problem.

The tiger cubs found last week were believed to have a value of $50,000 apiece, but the driver was fined $500.

"There is a big demand for wildlife but there are very small risks in terms of penalties," Allan said. "Profit margins are actually even larger than the drug trade."

Many countries simply don't have the resources to enforce the laws. "They're just so poor, everything slips through the holes," Marshall said. "Everybody's paid off."

In some cases, the animals and drugs come in together. Smugglers have been known to hide clear pouches of liquid cocaine in fish tanks, or bags of cocaine in live snakes.

"Do I have to open up every one of the snakes to see if there's cocaine? I usually do," Marshall said. "But there's people doing this that are scared to death of snakes."

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Another case of law inforcement gone nuts .
And another way to get public oponion against the "animal trade"

in 2001, an African elephant was smuggled across the Gateway International Bridge on a truck.

If inspectors couldn't see a d:mad: mn elephant,they should all be fired.

Smugglers have been known to hide clear pouches of liquid cocaine in fish tanks,

maybe? but I can't see smugglers carrying around tanks full of water. Unless they all look like Hulk Hogan :redlaugh:

"Do I have to open up every one of the snakes to see if there's cocaine? I usually do," Marshall said.

Killing and opening up a snake must just be so much better for the snakes,then confiscateing it until it "passes" something that may (or may not) be in it :shock:

Yeah, a lot of ways you could question this more closely. A huge can of worms (smuggled, no doubt) under the surface of this no matter where you come down on some of the specifics. I'm all for not drowning in drugs, but considering the inquisition I wen through a few years ago coming back from Canada by US Custom, I think I might rather take my chances with the druggies than with a quasi police state. On the other hand (there are always other hands), there clearly is a problem with the illicit trade in animals and animal parts, both in terms of protecting endangered species (how many bear gall bladders can we export before we run out of bears?) to sheer stupidity (what's that tiger's name you got in that trailer, Roscoe?). Florida has just gotten ridiculous. There really are a lot of escapees from shooting gallery hunt clubs, but the major problem in recent years has been the private zoos that were smashed open by all the hurricanes -- especially Andrew, though the more recent ones have caused some problems as well. Between the exotic plants and animals, it'll make you blink. Who knows what the answer is? I sure doubt that our legislators will come up with anything sensible, considering past performance. All the regulatory agencies seem to become to caught up in passing political (read money-making) influences to do any real good -- though there are a lot of good and dedicated people working in and with those agencies. It's a tough situation.

to sheer stupidity (what's that tiger's name you got in that trailer, Roscoe?).

<--Sad but true

On the other hand (like you said there's always another). There are more tigers in captivity in the U.S. then in the wild (sad actually) . Heres where my problem against some anti-exotic happy law makers comes into play.

point #1 - When they get a bug up their about roscoe and his tiger he doesn't know how to keep,they don't seem to target "that type" of keeper but instead everybody and tiger type laws never seem to stop there but are worded in some fancy was to include all "exotics" or any "big cat" etc...

Just like I brought up on my forum this is what gets me , think the federal governments actual standpoint is non-native = exotic, so even your innocent cichlid tank is an exotic

Seems like a stretch to some who don't follow laws (until it's to late)
But some get put past people without thought.A few semi local ones that come into my mind.

The possiable banning of transporting "exotics" being a state law

The Toledo city ordance against snakes over 6 feet - That the local reptile club help pass:eek: that is actually worded now "with the potential to reach 6 feet " This originally was made to stop irresponsiable people from owning Burmese Pythons and Reticulated pythons . Now it covers ? 60% ? of snakes if/when someone has a bad day and decides to enforce it.

The no carnivours fish ordinance parts of lower Michigan had for a while , since a few genious's got the idea to ban piranhas - For a while some cities used the ordinace to ban most cichlids - ie.. the can eat feeders ,therefor they break the ordinance .


Point #2 - What actually creates a "black market" ? Laws! Usually ones that are insanely restrictive. If somethings harder to come by - it''s worth more , when it's worth more it's like a status symbol and thats usually when people want something they shouldn't have.


Point #3 What do you do for animals/exotics that are doing well in captivity and endangered or almost extinct in the wild? Ban ownership ? Who's it help? Just like I said above - theres more tigers in the U.S. then in the wild. 95% of those tigers are bred by private owners (yes I have all the discovery channels LOL) - Just something to think about

I'm all for not drowning in drugs

I'll second that.
But the day our government isn't involved or supposedly with some 3rd world drug lord in some kind of scam. rember Noreaga
Is they day I'll belive they're justified in cutting open snakes - just to check

Florida has just gotten ridiculous.There really are a lot of escapees

Yeah I'd agree
but heres politics again
57% of florida's income is from tourism - so I think roscoe and his tiger and other half (beep) "zoos" are welcomed attractions as far as the state sees it.

About 60% of "exotics" imported into the U.S. come through miami - taxes,freight charges,airport employees,customs officers,other money spent while dealing or buying <-- Floridas not willing to lose all that money.

So florida the ideal place for exotics to colonize won't outlaw them

Maybe I have to much common sense for polotics? But it would seem like the most sensable way to regulate things would be to base it on the probability of it surviveing or colonizeing if it escapes.

Like if some monkeys escaped in ohio it's pretty much guaranteed they won't last the winter,in south Florida they'd probally breed through the winter.
Same with big cats (and one thing I fully agree with local laws on) in Ohio a "Perminate Cage" has to be built and inspected by the USDA . Great law! Protects people and doesn't denie responsiable people who want to keep things. Why warmer states with a better chance for escapees to survive don't have these type of regulations is just dumb.

Don't mind me I'm just ranting, some of the new proposed laws and the supposed reasoning behind them has really gotten under my skin lately.

Plenty to rant about. Even assuming good will, it's tough for lawyers to make good laws about things they don't really have a clue about -- or deem important enough to learn.

In the apparently moribund Book Forum, I recommended the "Doc Ford" series of novels by Randy Wayne White. One of the things I like about these books (except for the most recent -- I think he may have gone nuts) is his expose of a lot of the environmental sacred cows and scams as part of the background. As the character is a marine biologist (White spent several years as a fishing guide in Fla), most of these issues have to do with fish -- or at least marine life.