International turtle trafficking plot sees California man facing federal charges

Donald Do, a Daly City man, was arrested and charged with submitting false paperwork to obtain a permit for shipping wild and protected turtles to Asia. The case is part of Operation Southern Hot Herps, a joint state and federal effort targeting turtle poachers in the southeastern United States connected to the Asian pet trade. Authorities said Do and an accomplice attempted to export 292 loggerhead musk turtles to Taiwan. The accomplice obtained an export permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service based on a false claim that the turtles were hatched and raised by Do. After the permit was obtained, Do purchased poached turtles and told sellers he wanted “wild caught” turtles. Do and his accomplice also sought more than 200 freshwater reptiles from Albert Bazaar, who was detained on related charges for stealing and selling more than 1,800 wild turtles from Florida streams. After export attempts failed, Do allegedly tried to conceal his role by claiming the turtles were sold to domestic buyers, violating the Lacey Act.

"Donald Do was arrested and charged with submitting false paperwork in an attempt to obtain a permit that would enable him to ship wild and protected turtles to Asia. Do's arrest was part of a joint state and federal crackdown called Operation Southern Hot Herps, which was initiated to detect and deter turtle poachers in the southeastern United States engaged in the Asian pet trade. According to the Justice Department, Do and an accomplice tried to export 292 loggerhead musk turtles to Taiwan."

"The co-conspirator obtained an export permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service based on a false claim by Do that he hatched and raised the turtles. After Do obtained the permit, he purchased the turtles, which had been poached from Florida and other areas, informing sellers that he was interested in "wild caught" turtles. The two men also tried to obtain more than 200 freshwater reptiles from Albert Bazaar of Louisiana, who was detained last week on animal trafficking charges, according to officials."

"In that case, Bazaar was charged with stealing more than 1,800 wild turtles from Florida streams, selling them to a co-conspirator specializing in the Asian pet market for more than $550,000. After unsuccessfully exporting the turtles, Do tried to conceal his role by telling his accomplice he had sold them to other domestic buyers, said authorities. The plot by Do, officials said, was a violation of the Lacey Act, which bans tra"

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