FAIRFIELD — Authorities arrested Andy Phan (47) of Fairfield on August 29th, the result of “Operation Oakland Abalone Syndicate” — a far-reaching and intensive investigation into wild abalone poaching along the northern California coast.
"Abalone" is a general term for species of small to very large edible sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs of the family Haliotidae
12 other suspects were also taken into custody at locations around the Sacramento metro region as well as in the Bay Area.
It is legal for sportsmen to catch and harvest abalone — within strict limits. But it is not legal anywhere in the state of California to possess the threatened gastropod mollusks with the intent to sell them commercially.
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife obtained warrants to search 14 homes in Fairfield, Sacramento, Alameda, and Oakland, announced DFW Lieutenant Patrick Foy. 100 wardens, about one-third of the DFW’s entire staff, helped make the arrests.
Along with Phan and among others, wardens arrested several suspects including Chinh Quan Le (60), Khoa Dang Nguyen (40), Hung Ngoc Quoc Vo (41), and Toi Van Nguyen (48), who had previously been arrested and convicted for abalone poaching.
Based on their investigation and exhaustive surveillance of the suspects, game wardens allege that the abalone harvesters sold the mollusks to a ring of black market buyers in Sacramento and the Bay Area.
The meat of these mollusks is considered a delicacy and the price is high due to scarcity. Lined with mother of pearl, the abalone shell is also prized.
“Unless it is stopped, poaching will degrade California’s abalone population over time,” said Fish and Wildlife Captain David Bess in a press release.
Read more:
San Jose Mercury News: State wildlife wardens arrest 13 suspected abalone poachers in East Bay, Sacramento
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