Donald Do Arrested Over 292 Poached Turtles, Using False Export Permits
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 16
Donald Do Arrested Over 292 Poached Turtles, Using False Export Permits
4 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 16
Federal authorities arrested California man Donald Do on wildlife-trafficking charges after alleging he tried to export 292 loggerhead musk turtles to Taiwan between December 2022 and May 2024.
Investigators say the turtles were falsely described as captive-bred to secure a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service export permit, while Do actually bought animals poached from Florida and other areas and directed shipments to San Francisco.
Albert Bazaar of Louisiana was also arrested; prosecutors say Do tried to buy 200 turtles from him, and Bazaar is accused of poaching and selling more than 1,700 loggerhead musk turtles.
The protected species is covered by the Lacey Act, which bars false information in interstate or international wildlife trade; Do pleaded not guilty, faces up to five years in prison, and has a bond hearing set for May 21.
The case is part of the Justice Department's "Southern Hot Herps" crackdown on turtle poaching in the southeastern United States, reflecting persistent demand for small aquarium-friendly turtles.
What became of the international network that financed this turtle trafficking operation after the 2024 arrests?
How are US agencies using technology to fight the $23 billion illegal wildlife trade funding criminal groups?