Mar 29 2009
Operation Shellshock
An undercover operation that began in 2007 into New York’s Black market Herp trade has lead to charges being brought against 18 people. The crimes uncovered by the investigators involved more than 2,400 Herps, including the endangered Massasauga rattlesnake, Sistrurus catenatus. ( I know, the photo is of a TimberRattler, not a MR, but it looked pretty anyway)
The investigation did not end in New York. The Massasauga investigation led to additional arrests in Canada. Pennsylvania, NJ, Florida, USF&W and immigration & customs got involved in the operation as well.
There was also apparently a snapping turtle laundering operation going on in Louisiana, (If you use fabric softener I hear they come out cute and fluffy) with NY snapping turtles eventually being shipped to China. I guess not enough New Yorkers have a taste for them. If they taste like they smell I don’t know how anyone can eat them. Don’t get me wrong, I love snappers, but we’re just friends, we don’t have a dinner-type relationship.
To see more photos from Operation shellshock check HERE.
