BC Government has issued fines of $46,000 after two individuals were found guilty on six counts under the Wildlife Act for trafficking bear parts.
Jian Fen Chen was found guilty on six counts under the Wildlife Act for trafficking bear paws and bear gall bladders. The offences occurred in Surrey and Langley between September 2015 and September 2016.
Chen was sentenced to pay over $20,000 in penalties, with $3,000 directed to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF). Chen was also required to forfeit $2,000 related to the wildlife trafficking sales.
Hong Hui Xie was found guilty on six counts under the Wildlife Act for trafficking bear paws, bear gall bladders, and deer meat. The offences occurred in 100 Mile House and Cache Creek between October 2015 and September 2016. Xie was sentenced to pay over $20,000 in penalties, with $3,000 directed to the HCTF.
Xie was also required to forfeit $1,340 related sales of wildlife trafficking. British Columbia has also had some of the highest wildfire-related violation ticket fines in Canada last year.
As many as 124 violation tickets were issued by the Conservation Officer Service during peak wildfire season, and over $134,000 collected in fines.
