Why are criminals smuggling?
The trade of animals is fueled by desire, greed and corruption.
Besides being extremely profitable, it’s difficult to get caught smuggling endangered animals.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has fewer than 400 law enforcement agents; while the Drug Enforcement Agency has 11,000 employees.
Also, punishments are far less severe than being busted for drug smuggling.
If you’re a narcotics dealer and officials find you with hundreds of
thousands of dollars worth of heroin, even if it’s your first offense,
you could face a minimum of 10 years in prison, and you’ll be a convicted felon. But if you’re an animal smuggler with no prior convictions and you get caught with an equivalent cache of illegal butterflies, you might not even spend the night in jail.
Besides being extremely profitable, it’s difficult to get caught smuggling endangered animals.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has fewer than 400 law enforcement agents; while the Drug Enforcement Agency has 11,000 employees.
Also, punishments are far less severe than being busted for drug smuggling.
If you’re a narcotics dealer and officials find you with hundreds of
thousands of dollars worth of heroin, even if it’s your first offense,
you could face a minimum of 10 years in prison, and you’ll be a convicted felon. But if you’re an animal smuggler with no prior convictions and you get caught with an equivalent cache of illegal butterflies, you might not even spend the night in jail.