How to get 10-20 years in prison travelling with corals....

[Graffiti Spot]

Welcome to the Philippines - enjoy your stay. . .

World's most crowded jail, Quezon City, Philippines



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Just rediculous, I bet the inmates run the whole thing too. I wonder which guy is in charge of the basketball, or whatever they use to toss through the basketball hoop!
I bet the owners of prisons in the USA would kill to take all these people and store them in their prisons $$$$$$$$...

 

[madweazl]

If I lived in an area with desirable corals, I'd undoubtedly abscond with a frag.

 

[Zeal]

I cannot confirm or deny such allegations.

I plead the 5th!

 

[Gil03]

Let's just show people how stupid we are by displaying this coral we're trying to preserve out on a table to dry while take advantage of a photo opp! smh...all those people and still not enough brain power.

 

[reef lover]

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Nothing will happen. I take a cruise at least once a year. I aways bring back the big shells I found while diving as gifts. Your one piece of dryied dead corals won't raise any flag.

I can finally sleep in peace. Thanks

 

[Sallstrom]

Nothing will happen. I take a cruise at least once a year. I aways bring back the big shells I found while diving as gifts. Your one piece of dryied dead corals won't raise any flag.

Working at a public aquarium and we're helping the Swedish police to ID corals.
A couple of month ago two people brought about 20 pieces of coral skeleton into Sweden and got caught, we helped with ID of the corals. They got a pretty large fine.
I'm not 100% sure, but I think you need CITES for coral skeleton as well.

Do a check on the rules before your next cruise, just in case

 

[dylana407]

Working at a public aquarium and we're helping the Swedish police to ID corals.
A couple of month ago two people brought about 20 pieces of coral skeleton into Sweden and got caught, we helped with ID of the corals. They got a pretty large fine.
I'm not 100% sure, but I think you need CITES for coral skeleton as well.

Do a check on the rules before your next cruise, just in case

Good to know.

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

people need to chill out about them "leaving the corals out to die"

It is evidence of a crime.. and lets face it.. likely dead already.

what? NONE of you ever killed a chunk of wild coral?

Besides, in the PI it is all about the photo op.

 

[KrisReef]

Working at a public aquarium and we're helping the Swedish police to ID corals.
A couple of month ago two people brought about 20 pieces of coral skeleton into Sweden and got caught, we helped with ID of the corals. They got a pretty large fine.
I'm not 100% sure, but I think you need CITES for coral skeleton as well.

Do a check on the rules before your next cruise, just in case

Clarification:
CITIES covers "Trade", which is stuff that is for sale, or collected in amounts that make it look like you are going to resell it. The collection for private use is not covered by the CITIES treaty, but you may need a lawyer to explain this on your behalf if you are caught with live or dead items on the "do not take" list.

But wait, there is more: Collection of corals, skeletons, rocks, snails, or ivory and similar naturally occurring wild stuff from within "closed areas" (reserves, preserves, refuges, permit- take only areas, national parks, etc.) will land you in front of the judge ( or at least make you pay-off some local official) in almost any jurisdiction you might be operating in world-wide if you are apprehended with the "forbidden fruit" as defined by code section, writ, custom, or any of those pesky unwritten local ordinances or traditions.

If you want to collect, transport, and resell contraband items it would serve you well to study the operations of guys like "El Chapo." Unless you like prison, a good operational axiom would be; "Don't be the low hanging fruit for border crossing disputes involving contraband items of any amount in any jurisdiction where you don't have a preexisting arrangement with the governing authorities before you cross the line."

Get an attorney before you cross any border or anybody.

 

[PaulS]

I brought a bunch of dead rock back from Belize. Checked with customs and the said no problems. US customs had no problem with it. I would never try something live.

 

[cracker]

here in Florida a "few" soft corals are legal to collect. I voted maybe depending on if I can keep it alive long enough to get home . Years ago, one could collect what they wanted .

 

[sfin52]

I wanted to take coral with me back from a trip to a coral reef in mexico. But after snorkeling it, I wondered how can anybody remove coral from a reef it's just to amazing.

I'm ok with buying it. I have a reasonable explanation that it's highly regulated so not to much damage is being done to the reef through collection.

 

[siggy]

Imagine how heavy his bags were......,

Somethings fishy with that article. Of course it was blamed on tourists

 

[samnaz]

Never. I think about doing the opposite, though...

 

[slowngreen]

Stealing's bad mmmmkay.

I'd almost rather see them steal it and get away with it than see the officials just let it die like that. Theres all sorts of stealing in this hobby with the ridiculous prices people put on their products and corals but these guys take the cake.

 

[Matthew Frost]

People who have nothing have nothing to lose. The guy moving this stuff probably was told nobody would really care it's just a bunch of rocks. If the coral was packaged that way the mortality rate would be high if not total. All in all this was a moron play perpetrated by a host of morons with one moron getting caught and likely taking the wrap. AND a second batch of morons patting themselves on the back to celebrate "stopping" it.

 

[scchase]

What happened in the story was wrong, however I had to vote yes since I have done it, legal with all appropriate licenses and permits as needed.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

the corals will be fine. Didn't you notice the inspectors were wearing rubber gloves?

 

[tehmadreefer]

You get it by removing coral ILLEGALLY from the Philippines! SMH! DON'T DO IT!

Seriously what are these people thinking? I know this was probably someone looking to make a profit but what goes through these peoples mind?

From the photos it looks like the coral might die as well.

FB Story Here or read the quote below.

What were they thinking??

The same thing that ppl on this forum brag about doing it here in FL or asking if it’s “OK” That’s what!

IMO, anyone who takes as much as a snail from the ocean needs 10-20 years here in the US!