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The confiscated cycads
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July 24, 2001, 19:00
Three South Africans have been arrested in California, USA, for their part in the illegal smuggling of cycads. The arrests come after a three-year sting operation involving US, South African and Australian authorities.
The bust by US Fish and Wildlife Service agents amounts to around R4 million. They set up a front company in San Francisco to buy illegal cycads and orchids. Through their investigation they identified six key figures of the illegal cycad trade. Among those arrested are Enest Bouwer of Sandton, Rolf Bauer from Johannesburg and Jan van Vuuren of Centurion.
"Hopefully the people who are dealing in illegal commodities will have to think twice now before they engage in such illegal activity because they really won't know if they're selling to someone who is a police officer," says Carl Mainen, a special agent at the fish and wildlife service.
Some of the 553 cycads confiscated are believed to be from the Eastern Cape. However, botanists will analyse them to establish their origin, age and species. Police are also busy with investigations.
Gert van der Merwe, of the Endangered Species Unit, says the unit is looking into all the people who were involved in supplying these specific people with plants.
"We are looking into further arrests and investigations in the matter," van der Merwe says.
Those arrested are in jail in California and face up to 15 counts each for conspiracy, smuggling and making false statements. Each of the charges carries a maximum of five years in jail and $250 000 (R2 million) fines.
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