Reading, Massachusetts man charged in connection with wildlife trafficking investigation – NBC Boston

A Massachusetts man is facing federal charges on suspicion of smuggling body parts of protected wild animals from Africa and Asia and selling them to buyers in the United States.

Adam Bied, 39, has been charged with trafficking body parts of endangered and protected species for at least two years. Bied, a Reading resident, bought, sold and traded those products, some under the guise of shipping labels such as “resins” or “rodents,” federal prosecutors say.

Investigators say Bied allegedly collaborated with individuals in Cameroon and Indonesia who killed wildlife from January 2018 until at least June 2021. He did not have the necessary licenses or permits to do so.

“The illegal trade in endangered wildlife for financial gain is a serious crime that poses a significant threat to global efforts to protect and conserve these species,” said U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “These laws and international treaties exist to protect endangered species from exploitation and to maintain ecological balance.”

He was charged with two counts of conspiracy and three counts of violating the Lacey Act, which prohibits the illegal trade in animals and plants. He was accused of making these transactions in violation of U.S. law.

A seizure suit was filed, allowing the government to seize property linked to a crime. The list included over 100 wildlife parts, including body parts from endangered and threatened species such as orangutans, tigers, otters, polar bears, jaguars and leopards.

“This confiscation action sends a clear message: we will not only prosecute those involved in the illegal wildlife trade, but will also take legal action to deprive them of their ill-gotten gains,” Levy said.