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DETROIT FREE PRESS (Michigan) 05 July 03 Snake-smarts help cop make bust - Agent posed as illegal reptile dealer for years (Breanna Shepherd)
For a Michigan detective who played a key role in a multistate sting operation though, it helped to understand turtles and snakes.
That officer, who requested anonymity for security reasons, is an undercover detective for the state Department of Natural Resources. The DNR, along with agencies from other states and the federal government, seized hundreds of rare and threatened reptiles June 28 after a two-year investigation.
The DNR detective posed for two years as a seller of snakes and turtles that are protected from sale under Michigan law.
Like any undercover cop, he had to gain the confidence of potential buyers, convincing them that he wasn't a police officer and that he was an expert on his cold-blooded merchandise. "These people are part of a tight-knit group and they don't just trust anyone," the DNR detective said. "They also know what they're talking about and I couldn't fake expertise."
He said illegal reptile dealers can make profits of 200 percent to 1,000 percent over what they pay trappers.A turtle that would sell legally for $25 might go for $150 to $250 in an illegal sale, he added.
Police who raided two locations found not only state-protected species but also guns, drugs and federally-protected species such as a Venezuelan rattler, an Indian python and an Indigo snake.
The undercover operation was a joint effort by eight states and federal law enforcement, which had officers posing as dealers, to crack down on the sale of protected wildlife, DNR spokesman Brad Wurfel said.
Among the species found in the raid were spotted turtles and the Eastern rat snake, especially rare in Michigan. Other protected species that were confiscated were Eastern box turtles, snapping turtles, wood turtles and a pair of albino fox snakes with an estimated worth of $10,000 on the black market.
The 13 suspects face over 200 misdemeanor charges, which carry a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and/or a $500 fine, said Wurfel. Felony charges for animal abuse and neglect and marijuana possession with intent to deliver may be added in some cases, and that would add two to four more years of jail time, said Assistant Attorney General Tom Piotrowski.
Wurfel added: "It's not about the punishment, it's about ensuring the survival of these species."
The undercover detective had some knowledge of reptiles from childhood, and he read up on them before going undercover. He also kept some species in his home to learn about their care and habits.
He said he attended more than 30 reptile shows with the suspects and socialized with them on a regular basis. He said most of the suspects used or talked about using narcotics and all knew they were illegally selling the protected animals. By the time the sting was over last Saturday morning and 13 people in Michigan were ticketed for high misdemeanors, the detective had learned more about reptiles than he ever wanted to know.
He said an undercover operation was necessary because Michigan law requires that officers must prove that the contraband reptiles were caught in Michigan and not purchased from another state where the species isn't protected.
Snake-smarts help cop make bust

Oh, that's so right. We're all on drugs and involved in the blackmarket. I loose a lot of respect and confidence in our law enforcement agencies when I see reports worded like that. It makes you wonder about other articles on law enforcement and how they connect those violators, or potential violators, to additional generalized activities. Were these guys violating games laws? Probably, but PR people down at the station should quit trying to lump us all. I guess all pitbull owners now days are felons and gang members (that's what I see on TV).

I was going to say this article made my day because it gave me some info about a protected species in Michigan that I've been arguing with someone over. They want to remove one of the animals from the wild to keep despite the laws and the fact that the animal is protected and they have no experience in keeping it . . .

This lumping of honest herpers with drug running herpers has disgusted me for several years . I think it is high time that we say something to wild life officers in order to show them we are not all drug runners . Also the bias or sensationalism ( just to sell papers and boost rateings ) in the liberal press does not help ether . We must speak up on this subject .

Kevin
NAROA

He said illegal reptile dealers can make profits of 200 percent to 1,000 percent over what they pay trappers.A turtle that would sell legally for $25 might go for $150 to $250 in an illegal sale, he added.

>>>Where do you find customers who will pay $250 for an illegal turtle when they can get the same turtle legally for $25?

Police who raided two locations found not only state-protected species but also guns, drugs and federally-protected species such as a Venezuelan rattler, an Indian python and an Indigo snake.

>>>Another poster said the "Indian Python" was a hybrid? How is that an endangered species?

Among the species found in the raid were spotted turtles and the Eastern rat snake, especially rare in Michigan. Other protected species that were confiscated were Eastern box turtles, snapping turtles, wood turtles and a pair of albino fox snakes with an estimated worth of $10,000 on the black market.

>>>What is an Eastern Rat Snake? Do they mean Eastern Fox Snake? Albino Fox Snakes? How are they protecting wild animals confiscating albinos?

Wurfel added: "It's not about the punishment, it's about ensuring the survival of these species."

>>>>Then why confiscate non-natural hybrids and albinos?

The undercover detective had some knowledge of reptiles from childhood, and he read up on them before going undercover. He also kept some species in his home to learn about their care and habits.

>>>And he discovered a new species the "Eastern Rat Snake" Pantherophis snakesmartsi"

He said he attended more than 30 reptile shows with the suspects and socialized with them on a regular basis. He said most of the suspects used or talked about using narcotics and all knew they were illegally selling the protected animals. By the time the sting was over last Saturday morning and 13 people in Michigan were ticketed for high misdemeanors, the detective had learned more about reptiles than he ever wanted to know.

>>>Well I guess marijuana could be consider a "high misdemeanor" although groups other than herpers have been known to use it including Blacks, Mexicans and Ex-Presidents.
PS I am not implying any of these groups are inferior to herpers or that any of them actually inhaled.

Sorry if this offend anybody, it's not meant to except to point out the possiblity of some legal animals being taken along with illegal animals, lack of specialzed qualifications pertaining to reptile identification on the part of law enforcement and the unjust profiling of minorities icluding herpers.