1,400 Pieces of Endangered Sea Turtle Shells Disguised as Blue Plastic Seized in Miami

South Florida remains a hub in the illegal global wildlife trade. Over 1,400 pieces of sea turtle shells and fragments are still in a warehouse in Miami after being seized in November 2019. The shells included those from hawksbill turtles.

US Customs and Border Protection seized the illegal materials and said it was one of the largest ever sea turtle shell seizures in the United States. The shells arrived in packages to Miami International Airport and were disguised in paint. Chalk-like blue paint covered the shells, which were registered as “plastic recycle” to throw off customs’ officers. The seized shells were on their way to Asia, a popular destination for turtle parts.

While authorities didn’t have the jurisdiction to arrest anyone in correlation with the crime, Customs and Border Patrol did seize the shell fragments. “Wildlife trafficking is a serious crime that impacts species at home and abroad,” Aurelia Skipwith, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service told the Miami Herald. “Sea turtles are critical members of healthy ocean ecosystems. Unfortunately, they are also severely impacted by the illegal wildlife trade.”

Hawksbill populations have significantly reduced in the past century. “Even though there were no prosecutions related to this case, it was still an important action that helped combat wildlife crime,” said Eva Lara, regional supervisor wildlife inspector at FWS’s Office of Law Enforcement. “Seizures can help deter wildlife trafficking by sending a clear message that wildlife crime isn’t welcome here in the U.S.”

Sign this petition to stop wildlife crime!