“A serious violation that poses a significant threat to global conservation efforts”

Authorities have charged a Massachusetts man with smuggling more than 100 endangered and protected animal parts, ending a wildlife trafficking operation that lasted more than three years.

Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Josh Levy announced June 21 that Adam Bied, 39, of Reading, had been charged with two counts of conspiracy to smuggle goods into the country and three counts of violating the Lacey Act. The Lacey Act prohibits wildlife trafficking.

“The illicit trafficking of endangered wildlife for profit is a serious crime that poses a significant threat to global efforts to conserve and preserve these species. Mr. Bied’s alleged conduct reflects a blatant disregard for the laws in place to safeguard our planet’s biodiversity,” Levy said in the statement.

According to Boston 25 News, Bied allegedly purchased the wildlife parts from poachers in Cameroon and Indonesia who target endangered and protected animals. Prosecutors believe he illegally imported the goods into the United States between January 2018 and June 2021 and resold or traded the parts to customers across the country.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigators seized items including narwhal tusks, otter skeletons, and leopard skin, claws and skulls from Bied’s home, storage unit and vehicle.

Bied also had skulls of several animals considered vulnerable or endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, including polar bears, mandrills, babirusas, African lions, tigers and jaguars.

Many of these species are keystone or top-of-the-food-chain predators that control prey populations. Their removal can have unintended consequences and disrupt the balance of an ecosystem. However, traffickers face serious repercussions if they illegally transport a creature, regardless of its place in the food chain.

Six people arrested in Bangkok with nearly 90 exotic animals face up to a decade in prison or a fine four times the import duty, while a Brooklyn man could face up to 25 years in prison for turtle trafficking.

The conspiracy charges and Lacey Act violations each carry a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a maximum fine of $250,000.

Court documents show Bied violated the Endangered Species Act and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. He also did not have the necessary permits or licenses to import and failed to declare the items.

“These laws and international treaties exist to protect endangered species from exploitation and to maintain ecological balance,” Levy added. “In addition to criminal charges, our office is seeking to forfeit the hundreds of animal parts seized from Mr. Bied’s home and a warehouse. … This forfeiture action sends a clear message that we will not only pursue those who engage in illegal wildlife trafficking, but we will also take legal action to strip them of their ill-gotten gains.”

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