Saturday, November 21, 2009
ABERDEEN: Man found guilty of smuggling leopard hide to U.S.
By Scott Waltman
Published on Monday, November 02, 2009
An Aberdeen man has been found guilty by a federal jury of smuggling a leopard hide into the United States.
Wayne D. Breitag was also found guilty of other lesser crimes that violate federal wildlife statutes.
Smuggling a leopard hide into the country is a violation of the Convention on International Trade in Wild Flora and Fauna, an international treaty that regulates shipments of certain species to 173 countries worldwide. The treaty requires that prior to transport of any part of a leopard from one country to another, an export permit from the country of origin and import permit from the country to which the specimen will be shipped must be obtained. The permits are only issued for leopards that have been killed with valid hunting permits, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice. It also says the leopard "allegedly hunted and killed in South Africa illegally."
The charge stems from Breitag's traveling to South Africa in August 2002 to hunt leopards with help from a guide. Breitag shot and killed a leopard at the time, according to the press release.
The guide arranged to have the hide smuggled from South Africa to Zimbabwe where the proper export permit was purchased. The release says Breitag then submitted applications to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service falsely claiming that he hunted and killed the leopard in Zimbabwe. On Nov. 5, 2004, inspectors seized a shipment of five leopard hides and three leopard skulls at Denver International Airport. One of the hides was of the leopard Breitag shot in South Africa, according to the release.
Smuggling hides is punishable by as much as 20 years in state prison and a $250,000 fine. The other wildlife violations are each punishable by as much as five years in state prison and a $250,000.
In 2007, the South African guide pleaded guilty to federal smuggling charges in Colorado. He served 18 months in prison and has since been released and deported.
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Wayne D. Breitag was also found guilty of other lesser crimes that violate federal wildlife statutes.
Smuggling a leopard hide into the country is a violation of the Convention on International Trade in Wild Flora and Fauna, an international treaty that regulates shipments of certain species to 173 countries worldwide. The treaty requires that prior to transport of any part of a leopard from one country to another, an export permit from the country of origin and import permit from the country to which the specimen will be shipped must be obtained. The permits are only issued for leopards that have been killed with valid hunting permits, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice. It also says the leopard "allegedly hunted and killed in South Africa illegally."
The charge stems from Breitag's traveling to South Africa in August 2002 to hunt leopards with help from a guide. Breitag shot and killed a leopard at the time, according to the press release.
The guide arranged to have the hide smuggled from South Africa to Zimbabwe where the proper export permit was purchased. The release says Breitag then submitted applications to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service falsely claiming that he hunted and killed the leopard in Zimbabwe. On Nov. 5, 2004, inspectors seized a shipment of five leopard hides and three leopard skulls at Denver International Airport. One of the hides was of the leopard Breitag shot in South Africa, according to the release.
Smuggling hides is punishable by as much as 20 years in state prison and a $250,000 fine. The other wildlife violations are each punishable by as much as five years in state prison and a $250,000.
In 2007, the South African guide pleaded guilty to federal smuggling charges in Colorado. He served 18 months in prison and has since been released and deported.
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