United States v. 3,210 Crusted Sides of Caiman Crocodilus Yacare

636 F. Supp. 1281, 16 Envtl. L. Rep. (Envtl. Law Inst.) 20, 1986 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24920
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Florida
DecidedMay 28, 1986
Docket84-0959-CIV
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 636 F. Supp. 1281 (United States v. 3,210 Crusted Sides of Caiman Crocodilus Yacare) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. 3,210 Crusted Sides of Caiman Crocodilus Yacare, 636 F. Supp. 1281, 16 Envtl. L. Rep. (Envtl. Law Inst.) 20, 1986 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24920 (S.D. Fla. 1986).

Opinion

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

GONZALEZ, District Judge.

The plaintiff, the United States of America, seeks forfeiture of the defendant, 10,-870 crusted sides of Caiman croeodilus yacaré, an endangered species of wildlife (hides), pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Endangered Species Act), 16 U.S.C. § 1538(a)(1)(A) (1985); The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Convention done at Washington, D.C., August 3, 1973, T.I.A.S. No. 8249, implemented by 16 U.S.C. § 1531(a)(4)(F); and the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (Lacey Act), 16 U.S.C. § 3372(a)(2)(A) (1985). Societe Des Fourrures Maurice, S.A. a/k/a Frutradimex (Frutradimex) and Marva Sr. Ltds. Disposición de Fru Tradimex (Marva) claim ownership of the defendant hides and contest their forfeiture. The court has jurisdiction pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 1540(c) (1985) and 28 U.S.C. §§ 1345 (1976) and 1355 (1985).

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. A consignment of crocodile hides, or crusted sides of Caiman, were shipped from Santa Cruz, Bolivia by Curtiembre San Matías Ltd. The ultimate destination of the hides was given as Marva S.R. Ltd., Paris, France.

2. The term “crusted sides of Caiman” refers to the fact that the hides have undergone a preliminary tanning process.

3. The hides arrived at Miami International Airport, Miami, Florida, on September 16, 1982.

4. The hides were shipped aboard Lloyd Aero Boliviano (LAB) Flight No. 908 under Airway Bill No. 051-05660944.

5. The airway bill listed the hides as Caiman croeodilus croeodilus.

6. The CITES permit accompanying the hides described the hides as Caiman croco *1283 dilus crocodilus. Bolivia was given as the country of origin for the hides and their number was given as 3,210. The permit indicates 1,605 animals, which equals 3,210 skins. 1

7. During a routine inspection, inspectors for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Fish and Wildlife Service), decided to detain the hides, because the country of origin listed on the CITES permit accompanying the hides was deemed to be suspicious.

8. Inspection of the hides was assigned to Special Agent Patrick McIntosh who preliminarily determined that the hides were Caiman crocodilus yacaré (an endangered species), and not Caiman crocodilus crocodilus as the accompanying documentation indicated. Special Agent McIntosh based his conclusions on the fact that the subspecies crocodilus crocodilus is not native to Bolivia and that a count of the scales on the hides indicated that the hides were crocodilus yacaré and not crocodilus crocodilus.

9. The Fish and Wildlife Service obtained expert identification and classification of the subspecies from Dr. Wayne King of the Florida State Museum on November 2, 1982. On December 2, 1982, Dr. King indicated that the hides were in fact Caiman crocodilus yacaré.

10. Eighty-four percent of the seized hides were smaller than 85 centimeters.

11. The number of hides listed on the CITES permit was 3,210, when in fact, the correct number of hides was 10,875.

12. The claimants, Frutradimex and Marva, were jointly engaged in the business of procuring and shipping hides from Bolivia to France, in association with Curtiembre San Matías Ltd., of Bolivia.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

1. A forfeiture action is a proceeding in rem, in which the property is considered to be the offender. Calero-Toledo v. Pearson Yacht Leasing Co., 416 U.S. 663, 684, 94 S.Ct. 2080, 2092, 40 L.Ed.2d 452 (1974) quoting The Palmyra, 12 Wheat. 1, 14-15, 6 L.Ed. 531 (1827).

2. To contest a forfeiture action a claimant must “first demonstrate an interest in the seized item sufficient to satisfy the court of its standing to contest the forfeiture.” United States v. $364,960.00 in United States Currency, 661 F.2d 319, 326 (5th Cir. Unit B 1981); See also United States v. Five Hundred Thousand Dollars, 730 F.2d 1437, 1439 (11th Cir.1984). Standing is a threshold issue and the burden, of proving standing in a forfeiture action, rests on the claimant. Id.

3. The claimants, Frutradimex and Marva, have demonstrated a sufficient interest in the defendant hides to meet the standing requirements in a forfeiture proceeding. The testimony at trial established that Marva and Frutradimex were members of a joint venture and entered into this joint venture for the purpose of purchasing and shipping hides. Consequently, each of the members has equal rights to possession of the subject res, and accordingly, has standing to contest the forfeiture. Sasportes v. M/V Sol De Copacabana, 581 F.2d 1204, 1208 (5th Cir.1978).

4. Once the claimants have established standing, the forfeiture proceeding commences with the government bearing the initial burden of proof to establish that probable cause exists to initiate the forfeiture action. United States v. One 1971 Chevrolet Corvette Automobile, 496 F.2d 210, 212 (5th Cir.1974). This burden is set forth in 19 U.S.C. § 1615 (1985 Supp.), as incorporated by 16 U.S.C. § 1540(e)(5) (1985) (the enforcement provision of the Endangered Species Act).

In all suits or actions ... brought for the forfeiture of any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage seized under the provisions of any law relating to the collection of duties or imports or ton *1284 nage, where property is claimed by any person, the burden of proof shall lie upon such claimant____ Provided, That probable cause shall be first shown for the institution of such suit or action, to be judged by the court.

19 U.S.C. § 1615 (1985 Supp.).

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636 F. Supp. 1281, 16 Envtl. L. Rep. (Envtl. Law Inst.) 20, 1986 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24920, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-3210-crusted-sides-of-caiman-crocodilus-yacare-flsd-1986.