Reptile & Amphibian Forums

KLFY (Lafayette, Louisiana) 08 April 05 Seven arrested in north Alabama for selling turtles illegally
Montgomery, Ala. Alabama authorities have arrested seven people in connection with "Operation Snapper," a multistate investigation that documented sales of legal and illegal turtles.
Conservation agents allege that the individuals illegally caught and sold turtles from the wild. Fifty people throughout the country are facing state or federal charges. The sale of over 340 illegal turtles were documented during the 18-month investigation.
The investigation focused on the illegal interstate commerce of protected turtle species.
Alabama regulations prohibit the collection, possession and sale of any common snapping or soft-shell turtle with a length of less than eight inches. Regulations also protect species like the box turtle from commercialization.
Wild turtles caught from Alabama and other states are in high demand at turtle farms and butcher shops in Louisiana, Arkansas and Florida.
Seven arrested in north Alabama for selling turtles illegally

It's kind of strange you mentioned this. The illegal turtle trade to is also possibly reaching into Asia. My Uncle has seen alligator snapping turtles, and snappers, in petshops in both Korea and Taiwan.

Does any know what kind of turtles they had or were selling?