text: State wildlife wardens arrest 13 suspected abalone poachers in East Bay, Sacramento - Mercury News
  Print Email Font ResizeState wildlife wardens arrest 13 suspected abalone poachers in East Bay, SacramentoBy Mark Gomez and Kristin J. Bender Bay Area News GroupPosted:
  08/29/2013 09:07:12 AM PDTUpdated:
  08/29/2013 06:18:54 PM PDTClick photo to enlargeThirteen men suspected of poaching abalone off the Sonoma and Mendocino coastlines were arrested Thursday morning for allegedly conspiring to profit from selling to a black market network of buyers in the Bay Area and Sacramento, state authorities said.«1»Thirteen men suspected of poaching abalone off the Sonoma and Mendocino coastlines were arrested Thursday morning for allegedly conspiring to profit from selling to a black market network of buyers in the Bay Area and Sacramento, state authorities said.The state Department of Fish and Wildlife simultaneously served search warrants at 14 homes in Oakland, Fairfield, Alameda and Sacramento, said Department of Fish and Wildlife Lt. Patrick Foy. Wardens also served a warrant at a San Leandro coffee shop, but that suspect remains at large, Foy said. Previous surveillance of the divers taking day trips to the coastline led game wardens to the men about 7 a.m. Thursday, Foy said. It is illegal to harvest wild abalone for commercial sale anywhere in California."Unless it is stopped, poaching will degrade California's abalone population over time," said fish and game Capt. David Bess. "It ultimately affects the honest, sport abalone harvesters who follow the laws. Four suspects with previous abalone poaching convictions were arrested: Chinh Quan Le, 60, Khoa Dang Nguyen, 40, Hung Ngoc Quoc Vo, 41 and Toi Van Nguyen, 48, all of Oakland. Also arrested were Hai Van Ha, 43, Duoc Van Nguyen, 48 and Nhan Trong Le, 46, also of Oakland, Andy Phan, 47, of Fairfield and Charlie Le, 55, of Alameda. In Sacramento, officers arrested Dung Van Nguyen, 40, Hiep Ho, 46, Hung Van Le, 42 and Tho Than Phan, 59. Advertisement
  The suspects face charges ranging from felony conspiracy to multiple poaching-related violations."We consider that to be extremely successful," Foy said. Abalone diving is legal, but divers must have a fishing license and are limited to three in a day and 24 in a season. Honest divers keep track of their hauls with an abalone report card, Foy said.One of the suspected poachers took 57 abalone in a season, Foy said.Thursday's operation was expansive as the 100 wardens, about one-third of the state's game wardens, helped with the arrests. Game wardens said the honest abalone divers also assisted with the investigation by following abalone report card requirements and adhering to abalone checkpoints. Contact Mark Gomez at 408-920-5869. Follow him at Twitter.com/MarkMgomez. Contract Kristin J. Bender at kbender@bayareanewsgroup.com. Follow her at Twitter.com/kjbender. Print Email Font ResizeReturn to Top RELATED