Smuggling wild orchids :(

[Jkelee]

This is out of today's paper. Very sad story for 1400 Wild Chids



Man admits to smuggling wild orchids
The Associated Press
August 13, 2008

MIAMI - A Florida orchid seller admitted in federal court that he illegally smuggled wild orchids out of the Philippines. Fort Lauderdale businessman .........pleaded guilty Tuesday to smuggling about 1,400 orchids into Miami International Airport in 2005. The violation of federal environmental laws carries a five-year maximum prison sentence and fines. ........ admitted that he claimed in papers that the orchids were grown artificially. In fact, they were collected in the wild in the Philippines by a ........ relative and shipped to him. Wild orchids are protected under an international endangered species treaty.