CDFW dismantles wildlife trafficking operation with endangered species in Central Valley

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (FOX26) — An illegal wildlife trafficking operation has been uncovered and shut down right here in California.

Governor Gavin Newsom’s office said the investigation exposed an international wildlife trafficking operation dealing in products made from endangered animals.

Some of those items, as you can see behind me, include elephant trunks and tusks – along with other items from endangered animals.

These were uncovered in Madera and Fresno counties earlier this month.

The World Wildlife Fund is telling me this is the reason why the number of elephants and rhinos has declined over the years.

Elephant trunks, rhino horns, and bear gall bladders.

Illegal products from endangered species shipped from Thailand were found in the central valley.

“We have discovered cases like this, across the years, throughout the years, for the past 10 years. But this one, this definitely marks one of the larger cases for sure,” said Nathan Smith, Assistant Chief, Special Operations for Law Enforcement Division, California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife says the us fish and Wildlife Service discovered after noticing a falsely labeled shipment.

The World Wildlife Foundation says that typically these items are sold online; however, this discovery was made in a store in Fresno County.

“At one facility we visited, we uncovered multiple markets all selling dismantled parts of elephants, such as skin, powders, tusks, and teeth. Snouts, trunks, gallbladders, rhino horns, walrus tusks, all of these items were for sale in different stores, but basically in one mall,” said Smith.

Three arrests were made.

On the same day, the CDFW shut down an illegal rooster-fighting rink in Madera County, where illegal derivatives of protected kestrel falcons were found.

“Those were residences that we had in Madera County that were connected to the Fresno facility. So everything had a nexus back to the Fresno facility. Still, those were home residences of some of the employees, where we believed that they also possessed illegal wildlife parts,” said Smith.

FOX26 asked the World Wildlife Fund why these items are sought after despite the bans.

“It became very high fashion, and it became a luxury item that was really in demand. And then, for rhino horn, Asia has typically been the primary demand center, but there are other regions, and the US is no exception. And those can be used for traditional medicine. There’s also, they’re also used almost as a party drug in some countries, where they believe it helps you party all night. And also the mis founded belief that it will cure cancer as well,” said Allan Crawford, the Vice President of the World Wildlife Fund.

The CDFW says three arrests have been made, and there are about seven suspects in total.

As the investigation continues, more arrests could be made.

I also asked about the value of the items.

The CDFW says they can’t put an exact price on the items, but it could cost tens of thousands of dollars for an item.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of AB 96 – landmark legislation that banned the sale of ivory in California, strengthening the authority and ability of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to combat illegal wildlife trafficking that threatens global biodiversity and encourages the poaching of endangered species.