South Korean plant poacher jailed in US

[keith]

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/2 ... iled-in-us

This guy has been worldwide stealing plants

Kim Byungsu admitted digging up $150,000 worth of Dudleya succulents from remote parks in northern California.

The plant, which grows in bud-like circles and resembles an artichoke, is native to the rugged coastlines of Oregon and northern California.

It is popular in East Asia, where it is used for decoration.

A court in Los Angeles heard how Kim and his accomplices swiped thousands of the succulents from several state parks in 2018, before boxing them up and claiming they were purchased legally in San Diego.

The shipment was intercepted before it left the United States.

Kim was arrested and his passport was seized, but he later convinced the South Korean consulate to issue a new document, claiming his original had been lost.

He fled abroad but was arrested and convicted in South Africa for illegally harvesting plants native to that country for export to Asia.

Prosecutors who extradited Kim in 2020 said his raid on California's flora was not an isolated incident, and that he had travelled to the United States more than 50 times.

"Customs records show that he was traveling for succulent-related purposes and often with tens of thousands of dollars in cash (sometimes declared, sometime not) and fake phytosanitary certificates," they said.

[Steve-0]

Yeah...it does go back a ways.

Here's another story from 2018...same program, different characters.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... ing-crisis

...and this one....lady straps nearly a thousand succulents to her body...stupid...

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cactus-w ... 49da3c7167

[Aeonium2003]

Ebay sellers are also fishy. Particularly those selling seeds of endangered species. They ship them to you in an empty flashlight, they put the seeds in the flashlight.

[keith]

Here's another story from 2018...same program, different characters.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... ing-crisis "

I think its the same guy. later also arrested in S Africa for stealing succulents. Jumped bail in The USA but S Africa sent him back. Sad story got him a light sentence.

Will he do it again ? My guess yes.

[One Windowsill]

https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... ing-crisis "

Link incomplete. This one? https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... ing-crisis

Many different nationalities are involved. Here is a story including a nurseryman from the USA who has changed the name of his business but is still operating a nursery from the same address in Los Angeles, after being caught with 8,000 illegal Conophytum plants in South Africa.
https://www.businessinsider.com/millenn ... ?r=US&IR=T

Here is another story from the Manchester Guardian from last year, with some gorgeous pictures of plants.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... -peril-aoe

[Caudexguy99]

It is rather sad to see that poaching cacti continues to be a problem in this day and age. Just today I've seen photos of the nursery "Desert Creations" in the Los Angeles area selling poached Copiapoa. Some of which are rather highly priced, 300$+++ range. Are people actually willing to pay this price for a plant taken from a country only to likely die or struggle to survive elsewhere?

[Aeonium2003]

There's a ton of poached agaves and gymnocalyciums on ebay and etsy.

[One Windowsill]

There's a ton of poached agaves and gymnocalyciums on ebay and etsy.

These can be reported to Ebay or the local authorities for the seller.

[mikethecactusguy]

Caudexguy99. Where did you read that Desert Creations is selling poached plants?
Mike M

[One Windowsill]

By coincidence, Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't has just put a video on Youtube touching on this subject. He does employ some vulgar language so the video is not suitable for most workplaces and some tender ears.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RzxaoGiBQc&t=190s

[Aeonium2003]

He's rather well known on other C&S forum for his colorful language.

[Caudexguy99]

Caudexguy99. Where did you read that Desert Creations is selling poached plants?
Mike M

They're well known to import various poached caudiciforms from Africa. I didn't know they were importing poached Copiapoa also until recently. They're having some big Copiapoa sale this weekend and if you look at their Facebook or Instagram you can spot a couple poached plants. First photo is a screenshot of the flier spent via newsletter.
https://imgur.com/0x2z01u

https://imgur.com/nzpfRHH

[mikethecactusguy]

Again, how do you know that Desert Creations is selling poached cactus? This is the store in Northridge Ca you are accusing of selling illegal plants, yes?

[A_G_R]

Again, how do you know that Desert Creations is selling poached cactus? This is the store in Northridge Ca you are accusing of selling illegal plants, yes?

The Copiapoas that are circled on the first link he sent are clearly habitat collected, second one shows another habitat collected plant but in cultivation for a few years, years ago Karel Knize used to 'export' Copiapoas in big quantities.

[mikethecactusguy]

Since I must be a total idot, explain how the 2 circled cactus are clearly habitat collected.. What gives it away they were poached?
Thanks