Wildlife Officers Arrest Three for Possession of 59 Abalone

November 7, 2014

Officers from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife have arrested three San Francisco men for combined possession of 59 illegally harvested abalone. The suspects, Jin He Li, 35; Wei Q Wu, 27; and Jinfu Wu, 43, all of San Francisco, were booked into Mendocino County jail in Ukiah.

On Nov. 5, wildlife officers observed a suspicious van with one man inside parked on the side of the road near the town of Elk in Mendocino County. The officers began surveillance on the van and ultimately observed two divers in the water near the location where the vehicle was parked. The divers appeared to be taking gross overlimits of abalone. The officers observed the suspected poachers make multiple trips into the water and appear to hide illegally harvested abalone on the shore. The officers allowed them to gather their catch and leave the scene.

Officers later contacted the suspects at their San Francisco residence and arrested all three for conspiracy to illegally harvest abalone and combined possession of a gross overlimit of abalone.

Wildlife officers seized all 59 abalone, the van and dive gear as evidence. The suspects had removed all abalone from their shells which is an additional violation.

Guess the limit isn't 20 each right?

Dang poachers. Wonder how many were undersized? Or those magic 10"?

I know its really high nationwide and even higher in CA,  but I wonder what the rate of recidivism is for poachers ? Anyone have any statistics ?

Whatever the penalty ends up being, it'll no doubt be a slap on the wrist. 

If they were busted at the residence, they should take that as well.

I wonder why they didn't bust them on the spot and try to save some of the abalone...

Poachers suck.   

Most likely they followed them and then applied for a warrant and searched the premises.

Maybe wanted to get a looksie if they had anymore in the residence.

Eric I was wondering the same thing. Their residence was already a known issue. from vehicle license. It would be helpful to know a little more personal information on these people. Such as the scale of the neighborhood. If these people were employed or not. Down in so cal Avocado theft is a big deal to get money to buy drugs. I think the demographics or profiles would go a long way to spot poachers and maybe stop the problem. And If these people hold green cards they should be automatically deported. I know not all poachers are immigrants. 

Death Penalty!
How many of these low lives are out there day in and day out getting away with it?
Caught in the act, bullet in the head...move on.
I bet poaching would decline exponentially.

Wow that's more than three season limits 

I wonder why they didn't bust them on the spot and try to save some of the abalone...

Poachers suck.   

wardens are always looking for the "big bust" sort a speak.they're really not looking for the average sportsman thats out and do something dumb.if they feel your a big time poacher they'll give you enough rope to hang yourself (s).dont get me wrong they'll still cite people for infractions but there really trying to come down on the hardcore poachers.well this is what one of the wardens told me last year but not on so many words

I wonder why they didn't bust them on the spot and try to save some of the abalone...

Poachers suck.   

wardens are always looking for the "big bust" sort a speak.they're really not looking for the average sportsman thats out and do something dumb.if they feel your a big time poacher they'll give you enough rope to hang yourself (s).dont get me wrong they'll still cite people for infractions but there really trying to come down on the hardcore poachers.well this is what one of the wardens told me last year but not on so many words

Exactly. Its often about making the connections to other players in these large scale, high value poaching operations. Who are the middle men ? Where are these poached animals ending up ? Often times, you'll see these poached abs go straight from the coast and end up in the backroom of a SF fish market the same day. I guess DFW figures that these three jerk offs were already dead in the water so to speak, so they may as well give them the ability to implicate others as well.

Maybe they can become Cal Fire Inmate fire fighters and we can call them heros;

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=60308.0

but, of course, they will have to commit much more serious crimes in order to even get to prison, but hey! even more reason they should be called a hero than not. 

Hey it's California.

Maybe in five years it will just be a misdemeanor.  You know, steal a gun, buy some heroine or meth, grab a dozen abs.
Part time!

Hey it's California.

Maybe in five years it will just be a misdemeanor.  You know, steal a gun, buy some heroine or meth, grab a dozen abs.
Part time!

It's crazy times we live in, Matt.  It amazes me that other states don't try and sucede California from the union!!   

Voted off the island.....