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01-26-2007, 12:30 PM
Poaching ring rounded up in Quebec
Montreal Gazette
MONTREAL
CanWest News Service
Wildlifeofficials saidThursday they smashed a family-run, big-game poaching ring that operated near the Quebec-New Brunswick border.
“They would poach on the Quebec side, and then take it back (the few kilometres) to New Brunswick, figuring that once they’re there, Quebec provincialofficerscan’t intervene, and vice versa,” said Sheldon Jordan, director of wildlife enforcement for Environment Canada in the Quebec region.
Officials said thepoachershuntedat night, using spotlights to stun moose and white-tail deer before shooting them. They usedillegalelectroniccalls to lure their prey. They even chased down moose with modified trucks, breaking their legs and leaving them to die, only to collect the carcasses later. In some cases, they paid aboriginals to accompany them in an attempt to avoid prosecution.
OnThursday, more than130 provincial and federal wildlife officers swoopeddownon50 people. At least 13 of the individuals were sought on suspicion of poaching across provincial lines, including one New Brunswick resident who had been banned from hunting for life.
“Some of these people were coming over to the Quebec side, because natural resources suchas biggameare a provincial responsibility,” Jordan said.
However, crossing provincial borders topoach, smugglingmeat across the border, or being in possession of smuggled meat is a federal offence, with penalties far more severe than provincial ones.
Theguilty facefines of$300,000 and up to five years in prison.
In all, 43 individuals in Quebec and seven in New Brunswick were questioned and evidence was collected.
Montreal Gazette
MONTREAL
CanWest News Service
Wildlifeofficials saidThursday they smashed a family-run, big-game poaching ring that operated near the Quebec-New Brunswick border.
“They would poach on the Quebec side, and then take it back (the few kilometres) to New Brunswick, figuring that once they’re there, Quebec provincialofficerscan’t intervene, and vice versa,” said Sheldon Jordan, director of wildlife enforcement for Environment Canada in the Quebec region.
Officials said thepoachershuntedat night, using spotlights to stun moose and white-tail deer before shooting them. They usedillegalelectroniccalls to lure their prey. They even chased down moose with modified trucks, breaking their legs and leaving them to die, only to collect the carcasses later. In some cases, they paid aboriginals to accompany them in an attempt to avoid prosecution.
OnThursday, more than130 provincial and federal wildlife officers swoopeddownon50 people. At least 13 of the individuals were sought on suspicion of poaching across provincial lines, including one New Brunswick resident who had been banned from hunting for life.
“Some of these people were coming over to the Quebec side, because natural resources suchas biggameare a provincial responsibility,” Jordan said.
However, crossing provincial borders topoach, smugglingmeat across the border, or being in possession of smuggled meat is a federal offence, with penalties far more severe than provincial ones.
Theguilty facefines of$300,000 and up to five years in prison.
In all, 43 individuals in Quebec and seven in New Brunswick were questioned and evidence was collected.