A California resident has been arrested for orchestrating an international wildlife smuggling operation that targeted hundreds of loggerhead musk turtles destined for Taiwan, federal authorities announced Friday.
Donald Do worked with an unnamed accomplice to route wild-caught turtles through a fraudulent export scheme spanning from December 2022 through May 2024. The pair claimed the animals had been captive-bred to obtain a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, then purchased 292 loggerhead musk turtles that had actually been poached from Florida and other locations. Do allegedly arranged for the shipments to be consolidated in San Francisco before export.
The operation unraveled as authorities investigated a broader network of poachers. Albert Bazaar, a Louisiana resident whom Do had attempted to buy 200 turtles from, was also arrested on trafficking charges. Bazaar is accused of poaching and selling more than 1,700 loggerhead musk turtles over an extended period.
Loggerhead musk turtles are a protected species under federal law. Named for their outsized heads and powerful jaws that allow them to crack hard-shelled prey, the turtles are small enough to fit in aquariums, measuring just three to five inches. Their compact size has made them prime targets for the illegal pet trade in Asia.
Do's case falls under the Lacey Act, a federal conservation statute that criminalizes misrepresenting wildlife information in transactions crossing state or international lines. The charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Do has pleaded not guilty and a bond hearing is scheduled for May 21.
The arrests are part of an expanded federal crackdown on southeastern turtle poaching operations dubbed "Southern Hot Herps" by the Department of Justice. The operation reflects growing law enforcement focus on the black market for reptiles, which has become increasingly lucrative as demand from overseas collectors continues to climb.
Author James Rodriguez: "This case shows how easily falsified permits can turn the export system into a poaching pipeline, and why federal wildlife agencies need tighter verification protocols."
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